Question for any Germans out there.

[Kali]

My very good friend from Wiesbaden lost her father last night, I am wondering about German funeral customs - I want to send flowers, do Germans use funeral directors like here or should I send to their home? - how would I find out about (or if) they are having a funeral with out intruding?

[JVS]

1. I'm not from there, but this is called a Trauerstrauss at blumen.de

Which means that they do have the idea of sending flowers to those in mourning

[jmowreader]

5. Germans are seriously into flowers

In Berlin they have incremental opening and closing times for retailers catering to consumers, by city ordinance. Or at least they did.

For some strange reason, the florists opened first, then the bakeries, and finally the butchers and greengrocers. IIRC the full-line grocery stores opened at the same time as the bakeries.

[da_chimperor]

2. Send a PM to Kellanved, he's german n/t

[kcwayne]

3. You could also ask FTD

They do deliveries world wide, and should know the customs of the countries they operate in.

FTD Website

[Kali]

4. Thanks

I wrote as suggested and will also check with florist.

Thankyou.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Here's an array of discussions on the subject

http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/burial.htm

[Kali]

8. that was fascinating, thanks

I'm one of those strange people that like to wander around in old cemetaries and when I was in Germany a couple years ago I noticed all the dates were relatively recent - compared to all the ancient castles and churches and we had a similar discussion.

[LDS Jock]

7. I just called my ex, who is from Wiesbaden to ask

I read your post to him. He said yes they do send flowers to funerals and to send them directly to the home. I also asked him about if they have funerals like here and he said yes they do with very few exceptions.

[Kali]

9. Oh my, thanks -

They are actually in Biebrich, but NOBODY knows that smaller city. He was a local TV, electronics, and Satellite repairman for many years and my friend and her mother teach pottery making both in schools and at a studio connected to their house. (Just on the off-chance this could be one of those small world coincedences)