Flowers for worship and offerings
Laid before gods and shrines, strung for temples, carried in procession.
PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima
The red-bracted shrub of Christmas displays, native to Mexico and Central America
🇲🇽 Mexico and 8 more · Wildflower
Prunus mume
The fragrant plum blossom tree that blooms in winter across East Asia
🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Flowering tree
Decoration
Gosekku五節句
Five seasonal festivals once held at the Japanese imperial court
🇯🇵 Japan · Custom
Philippine violetBarleria cristata
A small shrub with violet, pink, or white funnel-shaped flowers
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Flowering shrub
Decoration
Pūjā in Buddhism𑀧𑀽𑀚𑀸
A ritual offering and devotional act in Buddhist practice
🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Offering or rite
Decoration
Kadomatsu門松
Paired bamboo and pine displays for the Japanese New Year
🇯🇵 Japan · Arrangement, Jan to Dec
Decoration
Floristry
The craft and trade of arranging and selling flowers
🇳🇱 Netherlands and 3 more · Arrangement
Decoration
Advent wreathAdventskranz
A ring of evergreens and candles marking each week of Advent
🇩🇪 Germany and 2 more · Worn flowers, Nov to Dec
Crown flowerCalotropis gigantea
A tall shrub with waxy white or lavender flowers and milky sap
🇮🇳 India and 8 more · Flowering shrub
Decoration
Lei
A garland or necklace of flowers, leaves, or shells given to honor or celebrate
🇺🇸 United States and 3 more · Garland or wreath
Arabian jasmineJasminum sambac
A small white jasmine with a strong, sweet scent, treasured in Asia for garlands and ceremonies
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering shrub
Decoration
Japanese garden日本庭園
A traditional garden style shaped by nature, philosophy and seasonal change
🇯🇵 Japan · Garden style
Monja blancaLycaste skinneri
Guatemala's national orchid, pure white and rare
🇬🇹 Guatemala and 3 more · Orchid
Decoration
Kolamகோலம்
South Indian geometric floor art made with rice flour or powder at home entrances
🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Carpet or floor pattern
Ixora
Tropical evergreen shrubs with clusters of small, bright flowers
🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Garden flower
Decoration
Monoï oil
Traditional Tahitian scented oil made from tiaré flowers and coconut oil
Flower craft
Decoration
Christmas decoration
Ornaments, wreaths, and festive displays for the Christmas season
🇩🇪 Germany and 7 more · Arrangement, Jan to Dec
Decoration
Christmas tree
A decorated evergreen tree displayed for Christmas in homes and public places
🇩🇪 Germany and 7 more · Arrangement, December
Cherry blossomPrunus subgenus Cerasus
The spring-blooming flower of ornamental cherry trees, central to Japan’s hanami custom
🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Flowering tree
Decoration
Lunar New Year Fair年宵市場
A festive flower market held before Lunar New Year in Cantonese communities
🇨🇳 China and 1 more · Custom
Decoration
Perfume
A scented liquid made from oils, flowers, and aromatics for body and space
🇫🇷 France and 6 more · Arrangement
Decoration
Papel picado
Mexican folk art banners made by cutting designs into colored tissue paper
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 more · Flower craft
Decoration
Chinese New Year春节
The Spring Festival marked by red decorations, family gatherings, and flower displays
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Custom, Jan to Feb
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Papel picado: Ferfive, CC BY 4.0, source
- Prunus mume: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gosekku: Kakizaki Hakyo, Public domain, source
- Philippine violet: J.M.Garg, CC BY 3.0, source
- Poinsettia: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pūjā in Buddhism: Luca Galuzzi ( Lucag ), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Kadomatsu: Nesnad, CC BY 4.0, source
- Floristry: Joachimj, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Advent wreath: Burkhard Mücke, CC BY 4.0, source
- Crown flower: Aris riyanto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lei: possibly Fernando Le Bleux, Public domain, source
- Arabian jasmine: Taken by Fanghong, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Japanese garden: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Monja blanca: Walter Hood Fitch (1817 - 1892), illustrator, Robert Warner (1814-1896, Public domain, source
- Kolam: mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ixora: Wilfredor, CC0, source
- Monoï oil: Verodemortillet, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Christmas decoration: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Christmas tree: Lechhansl, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cherry blossom: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lunar New Year Fair: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Perfume: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chinese New Year: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 4.0, source