Flower Etiquette

[I am planning to have a series of different etiquettes, starting with flowers first]

Winter the festive season is here again, and so is the season of weddings and parties and gifts. At first I used to really break my head to find some good ideas for gifts crockery, showpiece, football, gift coupons etc etc and then I realized there is nothing better than flowers. (though most of the times i give gifts as well as flowers ;)) , So since its festive season I thought lemme be the smart one to know about flowers ,I googled for flowers and what to give when...coz flowers have meaning and their colors too cudnt find much in that sense but I found various other stuff related to it, so I thought of jotting it down here.

BTW, in my school days, in our convent we girls had learnt this,(dunno from where) what color rose(we dint know anything beyond roses then :)) signified what, this knowledge would be shared just before valentines day ;)
Red - love
Yellow - hatred
White -peace
Orange/Pink - friendship
I dunno how true it stands now, but these were our standards then.

Anyways back to flower etiquette,here are tips on the etiquette of flowers:
Choose the Right Flower: Various cultures have assigned special meanings and superstitions to specific flowers. Too numerous to list here, find a lovely chart showing the name, meaning, and photos of flowers from A to Z at http://www.couplescompany.com/Features/Flowers/1.htm. he he he just kidding. I think we can chose with what we see in our stores nearby.

Know Your True Flower Colors: Choosing the right color is equally important(as I mentioned what happened during my school days). Flowers such as daisies, carnations(btw carnations are told to be funeral flowers is it true?), and chrysanthemums, come in many colors. When giving flowers as a gift, be sensitive never to give white flowers in India and most other countries, as it symbolizes mournful and unhappy occasions, because white is the color worn and used at funerals. In India red symbolizes life and happiness. Interstingly On the other hand, in Mexican folklore, red flowers cast spells and white flowers lift spells.

Give the Correct Number of Flowers: Also consider the number of flowers you give, as what is appropriate varies from place-to-place. In the U.S. a dozen flowers is appropriate and customary. In Europe and elsewhere even numbers are considered inappropriate. Almost everywhere, the number 13 is considered unlucky. In parts of Asia, never give a gift having an association with the number 4 (it sounds similar to the word death....I just read this somewhere, was not aware of it too). Giving a single flower is generally reserved for lovers.(and I thought it was low budget ;))

Present Flowers with Panache: In most countries, it is the custom to present a bouquet of flowers unwrapped, to display its full beauty upon presentation. Its kinda cliche to take flowers at these occassionss, Here are two alternatives to consider: Bring flowers already displayed in a vase of their own, or arrange for a floral arrangement to be sent ahead. Sending flowers a day after a party is a wonderful thank-you gift. BTW, its good to learn which flowers are favorite of your friends beforehand.

Be an Equal Opportunity Flower Giver: Men enjoy receiving flowers, too. The difference to keep in mind when presenting flowers to men versus women is in what kind of flowers you give, in what colors, and how they are presented. Keep to stronger, dominant colors, such as yellows and oranges. Do keep the wrapping simple, avoiding lots of ribbons, bows, and frills. With the emergence of equality, it is no longer inappropriate---thank goodness---for a woman to give flowers to a man. I enjoy giving men flowers.

Be your own secret admirer: Having a bad day? Celebrating a personal victory? Either way, give yourself some flowers. It is an indulgence that won’t add body weight, affect your ability to drive, or break your bank account. I do it myself and believe me it feels really nice.

P.S: No matter when the urge strikes you to give someone flowers, the one thing to keep in mind is never to steal them from your neighbor’s garden.

P.P.S: I love gerberas and tulips, so next time you know what to give me.