Floral Occasions & Holidays

It’s not exactly hard to find wreaths gracing doors throughout the spring, summer, and fall, but wreaths are at their most popular in the winter. While it may just seem like a coincidence, wreaths actually hold great religious and spiritual meaning, which is why they’re so admired and used during the Christmas season.

For many Christians, wreaths are so much more than a decorative accessory. Though there’s no one definitive explanation for why we hang wreaths, a few theories have become popular over the years.

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What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is an eight-day religious holiday celebrated by people of the Jewish faith. Each year in mid-December, Jews all over the world celebrate the Festival of Lights which commemorates a Jewish victory over the Greeks 2000 years ago. In 165 BCE, when the Jews came to rededicate the Temple they had reclaimed, they found only one small flask of oil with which to light their Menorah, or lamp. This flask contained enough oil to last for just one day, yet the lamp burned for eight days, the same exact amount of time it takes to completely prepare the sacred oil for a new ceremony. This is considered the miracle of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah Traditions

The Menorah During the festival of Hanukkah, menorahs are lit for eight days to commemorate each night the original lamp burned. There are nine candles on the menorah, one for each night and one in the center, which is used to light the others. Each evening, families gather at nightfall to rekindle menorah flames, rededicate themselves to their faith, and to share in the festive meals. Blessings are sung as the candles are lit. Continue Reading…

What is Diwali?

Once a year in autumn, during the darkest new moon in the Hindu month Kartik, Hindu communities and temples will shine bright with millions of candles and lamps. This celebration, known as Diwali – or the festival of lights – dates all the way back to ancient times! Diwali 2018 is celebrated on November 7th and for several days after, depending on the family’s religion and traditions.

The traditional name of this holiday, Deepawali originates from the Sanskrit words deep, meaning light and avali, meaning row. Depending on the region and religion, the duration of the festival (3-5 days) as well as the history and origin of the holiday may vary. Although Diwali is mainly a family affair, Diwali is also a religious day for many Hindus. Many celebrate the holiday to bring prosperity and good health to their families.
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What Is Day of the Dead?

Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), is a holiday that is celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd to honor and remember those that have passed on. The holiday resembles All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which are celebrated after Halloween on the Christian calendar.

First developed in Mexico, the Day of the Dead is most notably celebrated in Latin American regions, although it is becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States, too!

Why Is Día de los Muertos Celebrated?

When the Aztecs first began observing this occasion over 3,000 years ago, their ultimate goal was to honor and celebrate the deceased as their spirits returned, not necessarily to mourn those who are no longer with us. While it is definitely still a time of reflection and remembrance, the main focus is to celebrate the lives that our loved ones lived.

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Retirement is one of the biggest milestones a person will reach in their lifetime. This is an exciting time in your coworker’s life, so make sure you send them off with a retirement gift that they’ll never forget!

“Job Well Done” Gifts

Especially if they’re leaving the company after years of service, make sure they feel like their work has been appreciated and they’ll be remembered. Their time in your office may be over, but every home needs elegant stationary!

There’s no better way to say “thank you and good luck” than with a glorious bouquet of flowers. From seasonal designs to bouquets with “congratulations” balloons, flowers are a retirement gift staple!

Hobby Gifts

With all the time in the world now on their hands, many retirees like to take retirement as an opportunity to indulge in their hobbies.

Sports

The days of heading home before the game ends are officially over! Get the sports enthusiast in your life even more reasons to love his favorite game with popcorn tins featuring his favorite baseball or football team.

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With Independence Day right around the corner, most of us have one thing on our mind — patriotic decorations! Perhaps no historical day is more beloved among Americans than the 4th of July. And for that reason, it’s no surprise that people go out of their way to cover their homes in all things red, white, and blue!

Bring some patriotic greenery into your home this holiday with the help of:

Red, White, and Blue Arrangements

Celebrate America all day (and night) long by making this colorful arrangement the focal point of your gathering — talk about an American dream!

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Happy National Rose Month! Whether you’ve been counting down the days until June for weeks or you just learned it was National Rose Month, you’ve likely thought to yourself “why do we have an entire month dedicated to roses?” Because they hold a special place in our hearts and country’s history, roses have earned many honors other flowers can only dream about.

In honor of National Rose Month, let’s look at just a few reasons why roses deserve an entire month all to themselves.

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It’s a good thing April showers bring May flowers, because with prom, graduation, and wedding season officially upon us, we’re going to need all the flowers we can get!

If this is your first time buying a corsage or boutonniere, or heck, the first time you’re hearing these words entirely, have no fear! Their names may sound a bit intimidating, but they’re somewhat of a right of passage to buy — so long as you know a few key things.

What’s a Corsage?

A corsage is a small bundle of flowers that women typically wear pinned to their tops or around their wrist at special occasions. From bridal parties to prom-goers, corsages hit their peak popularity around May and June. Continue Reading…