Should I send flowers? It’s a question commonly asked by people about to attend a funeral. On the one hand you want to show support for friends and family, and flowers are a great way to do that. On the other hand, you’re sure flowers are going to be in abundant supply at the funeral, and you might not want to inundate the family with a whole lot of flowers that are going to be a hassle to transport or clean up.
However, we’ve done a little research, and have come to the conclusion that you should send flowers next time you’re attending a funeral. And here are 4 reasons why.
Flowers make people happy
If you’ve ever received flowers, you’ll know what it’s like. It’s hard to wipe the smile off your face when faced with such beautiful and colourful flowers. And while funerals are often not the most joyous of occasions, flowers will still help brighten the moods of those grieving.
But don’t just take our word for it. A 2005 study commissioned by the University of New Jersey investigated the power of flowers to elicit happiness, and found that receiving flowers creates instant delight and happiness. This is because they are a symbol of natural beauty which makes us feel more connected to the natural world, and triggers memories of ourselves enjoying the outdoors.
Flowers elicit true happiness
That’s right – there’s nothing quite like receiving flowers to make someone happy. But flowers don’t just make people happy – they make them happier than just about anything else. That’s right – the same study mentioned above found that there’s no gift that consistently elicits true happiness like flowers.
The study found that receiving flowers caused the recipient to respond with a duchenne smile – a heartfelt “true smile” involving the mouth, cheeks, and eyes. In the study, a large group of people unexpectedly received a wide range of gifts, and only flowers consistently caused such a true positive reaction.
Flowers form, heal and strengthen relationships
But flowers go beyond eliciting happy emotions from those who receive them – they also help build relationships, and increase a desire to maintain contact with the giver. Studies have proven that being exposed to flowers can inspire feelings of compassion and generosity, and increase an overall sense of community.
The study also found that spending time with flowers helped people find perspective in their lives – and made it easier for them to think kindly about others.
This is especially powerful at a funeral, with friend and loved ones of the deceased looking to their own friends and family for support and comfort. By providing flowers, you’re letting them know that you’re willing and able to provide that support.
Flowers create long-lasting positive moods
We’ve already shown that receiving flowers makes people happy – but that happiness lasts much longer than the lingering moments after receiving them. Studies have shown that the positivity lasts much longer, and that flowers continue to have their positive effect days after the they’ve been delivered.
In fact, researchers have also found that people who suffered from depression and anxiety reported a lessening of their symptoms in the days after receiving a fresh bouquet of flowers.
At Celebrate Me, we have a wide range of providers across New Zealand who would love to be able to provide you with the perfect flowers for your next funeral.
Visit our directory of florists for funerals here: www.celebrateme.co.nz/inspiration/flowers.
