Giving Flowers in Different Cultures
It may seem quite easy to select a bouquet of flowers for your friend. Nevertheless, even this simple task has its own twists and turns, which are associated with the cultural diversity in our country. For instance, in many Asian countries white is the color of funerals and sympathy. On the other hand, almost no weddings go without white flowers in North America.
I would like to honor my roots and share with you the specifics of giving flowers in Eastern Europe.
Every Canadian knows that women adore roses, and that the most common quantities of roses in a mono bouquet are 1, 6 and 12. However, in Eastern European countries, giving an even number of flowers is like wishing another person dead! That is because the even number of flowers is customary to bring to funerals and put on the coffin of the deceased. That's how you can get into an awkward situation, looking after the girlfriend, not knowing the traditions of her family.
Flowers also play an important role in the process of wooing a person in Eastern European countries. Men come on a date with a floral gift, especially if it's the first date. Later, if he is attracted, he often gives her flowers, orders floral delivery to work and home on any occasion, just to show how much he likes her.
On top of that, flowers are a must-have birthday gift. They can be both the main gift and an addition to something. It is also customary to congratulate mothers with flowers on the birth of a child, and this tradition goes on for years - if you were invited to your kid’s friend's birthday party, then do not forget to bring flowers for the mother of the birthday child, who should also be congratulated on this day.
Another thing that surprises North Americans is a special attitude towards flowers on the wedding day. All guests must bring a bouquet of flowers to the wedding. In fact, there is a tradition where, after the ceremony, the bride and groom accept bouquets as gifts from each family near the archway and have their picture taken with them. This tradition goes back to a time when low-income families didn't have the money to decorate their wedding with flowers. Guests started bringing “parts of the décor" themselves, thus creating a beautiful atmosphere of celebration for the newlyweds. Yet the amazing thing is that even now, when floral decorations have become an integral part of any wedding, guests still come with bouquets of flowers and congratulate the bride and groom with them. One may wonder what the newlyweds do with so many flowers after the celebration. Some couples make a room of flowers in their apartments and enjoy the fragrant orangery, but most often flowers are distributed among the closest relatives of the newlyweds, thus prolonging the holiday for their loved ones.
Talking about flowers in the life of Eastern European women, it is impossible not to mention the most important holiday of spring - International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8. It is customary on this day to congratulate and give flowers to all women - mothers, sisters, grandmothers, wives, daughters and colleagues. It is a day when everyone around gives flowers to women. Even if you go to the mall for groceries, you will definitely be gifted a tulip, which is a symbol of the holiday.
This day is also the hardest and most stressful for florists. Just imagine how many flowers need to be processed, and bouquets need to be made to make so many girls and women happy.
We were very excited to share some interesting aspects of flower giving with you. If you wish to share your observations of the cultural differences in this area, then email us at shop@metaflorist.ca and we will be happy to publish this information with a link back to you.