Why are Flowers a Common Choice for a Funeral Service?

By: Tom Gallagher
Wednesday, January 18, 2017

If you attend a funeral service at the Thomas Gallagher Funeral Home, you will notice the flowers given by those who want to send their sympathies to the mourning family. Did you know that using flowers as a farewell gift dates back to thousands of years? And the tradition of giving flowers during funerals has stood the test of time. While the reasons behind the act might be different in the past, the sentiments behind flowers do remain the same.


Why Flowers?

A lot of cultures recognise flowers to represent the cycle of life. When it is given at a funeral service, it is meant to honour and respect the dead. However, that was not the case in the distant past when the embalming process was not yet developed. During that time flowers were used to cover the smell of decaying matter. By filling the room with flowers, there will be an aromatic scent that can bring more positive vibes to the place.


Flowers in the Modern Era

At present, sending flowers to a funeral is a way to celebrate life, and at the same time honour the deceased. Keep in mind that different flowers have different meanings. There are flowers that represent purity, love, and innocence. Local florists can help you choose the right flowers to represent your relationship with the deceased.


When you send flowers, you are providing support and comfort to the grieving party. By seeing flowers during the funeral service, the family of the deceased will be comforted during their mourning process. More often than not, flowers can convey sentiments that are too difficult to express through words.



Carnations have been one of the important flowers in history. They come in various colours, but the common ones used in flower arrangements for a funeral are red, yellow, blue, white, green, purple, and pink. However, keep in mind that each colour has its meaning, and you need to consider the message you want to convey. Pink carnations are given to a mother’s or grandmother’s funeral service. Red carnations are to convey strong feelings and true love. White carnations are for faithfulness and innocence.



Chrysanthemum, or mums for short, was first cultivated in China. At present, there are now more than 40 species of Chrysanthemums. A lot of cultures associate mums with grieving and death. And that’s why local florists use them as accent flowers for funeral arrangements.



Lilies represent innocence that was restored to the soul of the dead. They come in different colours, but white, orange and pink are the ones that local florists use in funeral arrangements. White lilies represent purity and is the most common one seen at a funeral service. An oriental lily represents eternal life and is perfect for religious services commemorating the faithful departed. Then there are stargazer lilies that represent sympathy.


These are the common flowers that you can see at a funeral service. If you want to learn more about flowers and their meaning, you can contact the staff at Thomas Gallagher Funeral Home. They will be more than happy to answer your questions.


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