NWR: Flowers for the dead

clearheavens

Our very close family friends lost their only son last week.  At the funeral, the mom lovingly gave me a flower arrangement to bring home because she and her husband were going on a trip.  They don't want the flowers to go to waste immediately.

My mom said she didn't want me to keep it at home because it could bring bad luck to our family.  (Keep in mind that superstitution is strong in Asia where we are originally from.)  My dad said that my mom's claim is purely superstition and not from God or the tenants of the Catholic faith, and was gently disappointed at her.  He actually suggested to keep the flowers to challenge the superstition if I wanted to.

I don't know what to do.  What would you do?

lisa89760

I voted to keep them only because I've only been to one funeral of someone really close (my grandma's) and all the flower arrangements were given out to family members and each grandchild got a yellow rose to take home, since those were her favorite flower. 

I kept the flower arragement and it lasted a really long time - it kinda made me feel that my grandma was still there with me and actually had a hard time throwing it out when it finally died.  I still have the yellow rose since i preserved that.  

lalaith50

I like your dad's idea. (assuming your mom is also Catholic?) perhaps you could use having the flowers in your home to turn it into an opportunity to pray for the soul of this man (boy?) every time you look at the flowers?

ring_pop

Yes, it's superstition but it would upset your mom - and for no good reason, really. I like the idea of bringing it to a local cemetery.

I'm Chinese and although I'm not very superstitious, I understand how strongly some people feel about them, especially when it comes to funerals and the dead. I just think this is a battle that's not worth fighting.

clearheavens

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I decided to donate it to another dead person because that was the compromise.