October 2nd marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Literally “the head of days”, the holiday takes place at the beginning of the 10 day period of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah customs range from the spiritual to the celebratory, from solemn to festive. If you are visiting friends and family for this important holiday – or if you cannot be here in Wilmington and wish to send a gift – a bouquet of flowers from Julia’s Florist is a beautiful gesture.

What are appropriate flowers for gifts and centerpieces? There is no designated color palette, but many choose to send white or blue floral designs. Rosh Hashanah is a time of penitent prayer. After hearing the blowing of the shofar, which is a call to repentance, observers pray prayers asking for forgiveness. The intent is to move forward free of guilt into the new year. White flowers represent new beginnings and purity, perfect for the holiday. Blue flowers are considered to be indicative of the Divine. Imagine Luxury is an opulent display for your table, while Classical Dreams is a compact and gorgeous addition to the festivities.
When returning from prayer at the synagogue, most Jewish families have a traditional meal with their friends and relatives. This meal includes challah bread, which represents God’s provision of manna during the Exodus; apples dipped in honey, which represent the hope for a sweet new year; and pomegranates, which represent the “new fruit” offering and the seeds of opportunity in the year ahead. These traditions sometimes inspire people to purchase flowers that are homey and cozy, exhibit warm fall colors and have harvest accents such as wheat stalks, apples, and pears. In fact, the only color considered not appropriate for celebrating this High Holy Day is red.

For more idea and inspiration, call the floral designers at Julia’s Florist. We wish L’Shanah Tovah – a Good New Year – to all of our Jewish friends and neighbors.