Sending Sympathy Flowers to Turkey and Abroad: Customs, Timing and Card Messages

Sharing someone's grief from far away is hard. Flowers are a quiet way of saying you are with the family when you cannot be there in person. But sympathy flowers are not like birthday flowers: the timing, the address and the colours depend on local customs. Here is how it works in Turkey, and what is different abroad.

How funerals work in Turkey

In Turkey the funeral usually takes place on the day of death or the day after. The burial follows the funeral prayer, usually after the noon or afternoon prayer at the mosque. Times are set at very short notice and can change.

• Wreaths: companies, institutions and colleagues usually send a wreath to the mosque courtyard or the family home. Some families ask for "donations instead of wreaths" in the death notice — if they do, follow their wish.
• Condolence days: after the burial the family usually receives visitors at home for three days. Neighbours bring food and relatives come and go.
• The grave: traditionally, leaving flowers on a grave is not expected, although potted plants and flowers on grave visits are becoming more common in cities.

When and where to send flowers

Because the funeral happens so quickly, don't try to reach the mosque or cemetery in time. Send flowers to the family home during the condolence days — they will arrive while visitors are coming and going and the family is not alone.

• Orders placed before 12:00 noon Turkey time are delivered the same day. There is no delivery on Sundays.
• Write the family's home address and the name of someone the family knows, plus a phone number. At a house in mourning the door is often opened by a relative.
• Flowers sent a week later, or for the 40th day, are meaningful too: that is when the family is more alone.

We don't offer wreaths at the moment. Simple white arrangements and potted plants for the home are on our sympathy page.

Which flowers and colours?

• White and cream are safe in every faith and every family: white seasonal flowers, white roses, lilies and roses.
• A potted plant lasts for weeks and needs little care — one of the most common gifts at a house in mourning.
• Avoid red roses and bright, showy bouquets; they say "celebration".

What to write on the card

Keep it short and sincere. Examples:

• "With deepest sympathy. We share your sorrow."
• "We will always remember him with love."
• For a Muslim family you can add the Turkish phrase "Başınız sağ olsun" — the standard condolence, meaning "may your life be spared".

Add your name and how you know the family (neighbour, colleague, cousin in the UK). Families receive many messages during these days.

Customs abroad are different

If you are sending sympathy flowers to a family outside Turkey:

• Germany: the funeral usually takes place one to two weeks after the death and is organised by the funeral director (Bestatter), who also arranges wreaths for the service. A simple white bouquet to the family home is appropriate. Flowers to Germany
• United Kingdom: funerals are often two to three weeks later, and sympathy flowers to the home are common. If the notice says "family flowers only", send flowers to the home rather than the service. Flowers to the UK
• Russia: funeral flowers come in even numbers (2, 4, 6…); odd numbers are for happy occasions. If you're not sure of the stem count, choose mixed seasonal flowers rather than a counted rose bouquet. The 9th and 40th days after the death are days of remembrance. Flowers to Russia
• France: chrysanthemums are grave flowers, used only for funerals and Toussaint on 1 November. Flowers to France

Ordering from abroad

You can order from anywhere; payment is taken in Turkish lira with your foreign card and 3D Secure. More on ordering from abroad: sending flowers to Turkey from abroad. Flower etiquette by country: flower etiquette around the world.