What is the traditional flower for funerals or what funeral represents death?

Answer 1

The lily flower symbolizes death and is the flower traditionally used for funerals and coffins.

Answer 2

White flowers tend to symbolise purity so they are often used as funeral flowers. Lilies in particular are associated with funerals and thus are often feared by the superstitious. Lilies represent the pure soul from the sinful body. In the language of flowers, they mean reverent purity and are often used at weddings as well. White flowers with hanging heads, like snowdrops, white lilac or lily-of-the-valley are less liked. They are said to represent sorrow and in some areas are considered death omens. White roses are used for funerals of a spouse as roses always symbolise love. Traditionally, white roses were used for a woman who died a virgin

Other flowers that represent remembrance are also appropriate. Rosemary and forget-me not are the best known of these. White chrysanthemum are occasionally used for children because of the link to Holy Innocent's Day, when Herod ordered the murder of the firstborn. They are widely used as funeral flowers in Europe.

Today, I believe the favourite flowers of the departed are often used. For a special message, you could consult the language of flowers, as each flower was assigned a message during times when love was tempered by modesty.

Answer 3

I think most people tend to go with what they like flower wise these days for funerals though red roses are quite popular, people did used to have a preference for white lilies or chrysanthemum's at one time for tradition, some people say putting red and white flowers together represents death/bad luck.

Answer 4

White lillies. Still feels odd to see them at a wedding as it just feels wrong! Or black flowers. It's still seen as bad luck to bring red and white flowers to a patient in hospital ('blood and bandages', perhaps that also applies to funerals.

Many crematoriums have rose gardens and plant a rose bush over the ashes, so the rose also has some more modern associations.

Answer 5

The lily is the most recognized flower for funerals, then the mum,
rose, and peace lily(whole plant). And all funerals represent death.

Answer 6

At length he saw, moving along the centre aisle, a funeral procession. The little people who crowded the aisle, although they all look very sorrowful, were not dressed in any mourning garmet--so far from it they wore wreaths of little roses, and carried branches of the blossoming myrtle. Richard beheld the bier borne between six--whether men or worn he could not tell--but he saw that the face of the corpse was that of a beautiful female, smaller than the smallest child's doll. It was, Richard said, "as if it were a dead seraph,"--so very lovely did it appear to him. The body was covered with white flowers, and its hair, like gold threads, was tangled amongst the blossoms. The body was placed within the altar; and then a large pat of men, with picks and spades, began to dig a little hole close by the sacramental table. Their task being completed, others, with great care, removed the body and placed it in the hole. The entire company crowded around, eager to catch a parting glimpse of that beautiful corpse ere yet it was placed in the earth. As was lowered into the ground they began to tear off the flowers and break their branches of myrtle, crying: "Our queen is dead! our queen is dead!" At length one of the men who had dug the grave threw a shovelful of earth upon the body; and the shriek of the fairy host so alarm Richard, that he involuntarily joined in it In a moment all the lights were extinguished, and the fairies were heard flying in great consternation in every direction.

Answer 7

In the West, white lillies. I believe in China the chrysanthemum is the flower that should be used at funerals.

Answer 8

I have known a lot of people who wouldn't have Lily of the Valley in the house as they regarded this as the flower of death and therefore funerals. I personally am very superstitious and wouldn't have them in the house either.

Answer 9

White lilies are the traditional funeral flower. Apart from anything else, their scent helped cover any odour from the body (in a pre-refrigeration era...).

Answer 10

Does it really matter what is tradition for a funeral regarding flowers?. At my granparents funeral, i gave flowers that they liked whilst they were here, its much more meaningful.