Taboos For Sending Flowers To Foreigners

By Susan Ye

2013-12-19 00:00:00

When you are going abroad for a visit, study or travel, sometimes you send some flowers to show your appreciation for friends’ gracious hospitality. But you can not send flowers by random, or you will violate a taboo. Because different flowers express different feelings in different countries.

In foreign countries, Don’t send small flowers to the middle-aged people, which implies that they are not mature. Don't give young people large flowers.

In India and European countries, roses and white lilies are mourning flowers;
 
Japanese hate lotus. They think lotus is a kind of flower of another world after death. If you want to send Chrysanthemums to Japanese, you can only send the variety of 15 petals.
 
In Latin America, never send chrysanthemums. people see them as a kind of "demon flower", which are only for the dead.

In Brazil, dark reddish purple flowers are mainly used in funeral; and when you visit the sick, do not send those flowers with thick aroma.

The Mexican and French avoid yellow flowers as taboo.

Communication with Germans and Swiss: Don’t send red roses to a friend’s wife or female friends. Because red roses represent love, it will make them confused.

The Germans regard tulips as "heartless flower". Sending tulips mean breaking with them.

In Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium and other countries, chrysanthemum symbolizes grief and pain, not as a gift.

In Russia, Yugoslavia and some other countries, remember to send singular flowers, because even number is regarded as unlucky.

In France, the yellow flowers mean not loyal;

Romanians like flowers of any color. In general, a single number of flowers will be welcomed. But for a birthday party, put two flowers on the table, which is the most popular.

Lily represents death in the British and Canadians. Do not send.