Funeral Flowers in Latvia: What to Send and Ribbon Texts

In Latvia, funeral flowers are given in an even number of stems, and a wreath or arrangement usually carries two printed ribbons: one naming the person who has died, one naming who sends the flowers. You can order both from abroad. Rīgas Ziedi delivers funeral flowers in Riga within 2-3 hours to a cemetery, chapel, church or funeral home, and prints the ribbons in its own studio in Latvian, Russian or English.

If you live abroad and have lost someone in Latvia, or want to support a Latvian friend or colleague, this guide explains the local customs so your flowers say the right thing. It is written for people ordering from outside Latvia, so it covers the parts that usually cause doubt: numbers, colours, ribbon wording and where the flowers should go.

The even-number rule

This is the one custom worth knowing before anything else. In Latvia, as in Russia, Lithuania and Estonia, flowers for the dead are given in even numbers: 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 and so on. Odd numbers are for the living: birthdays, name days, romance. Giving an odd number at a funeral is not offensive, but older relatives will notice.

For wreaths and larger arrangements the rule does not apply, because nobody counts the stems. It matters for a hand-tied bouquet placed on the coffin or the grave. If you order a funeral bouquet from us, our florists follow the even-number rule automatically.

Wreath, arrangement or bouquet

• Wreath (vainags) - the classic choice for family, close friends and companies. Placed at the ceremony and then taken to the grave. Round or teardrop shape, with greenery, roses, carnations, lilies or chrysanthemums, and two ribbons
• Funeral arrangement (sēru kompozīcija) - a low, one-sided arrangement in a base, easier to carry than a wreath. Common from colleagues and from relatives who live further away
• Funeral bouquet (sēru pušķis) - an even number of stems, usually roses, carnations, lilies or chrysanthemums, wrapped simply. Placed on the coffin or laid on the grave. The usual choice for a friend, neighbour or former colleague

Prices in our funeral flowers section run from a simple bouquet to a large wreath. Every piece is made to order on the day of delivery.

Which flowers and colours

Traditional Latvian funeral flowers are white, red and dark tones: white lilies, white or red roses, red or white carnations, white chrysanthemums, with plenty of dark green. Yellow and orange are used less at funerals, although a bright wreath is sometimes chosen for a young person or for someone who loved colour. If you are unsure, white and green is always right.

One difference from the UK or the US: in Latvia funeral flowers are mostly cut flowers and wreaths, not potted plants or "living" arrangements. Flowers are laid on the grave after the burial and left there.

Two ribbons: KAM and NO KĀ

A Latvian wreath or arrangement carries two printed ribbons, one on each side. The first says who the flowers are for (kam, "to whom"). The second says who sends them (no kā, "from whom"). Each ribbon is about 70 cm long and fits two lines of 40-50 characters.

Ribbons are white with black lettering or black with gold lettering. Both are correct. White suits a lighter arrangement and is the safe choice. Black is traditional for an adult's funeral. Our florists match the ribbon to the flowers if you leave it to them.

We print ribbons in our own studio. A set of two ribbons with your text costs €14. Because we print them ourselves, there is no long wait, but please order at least a day in advance if you can. You can write the text in English and we will print it as it is, or you can use one of the Latvian texts below. Writing in Latvian is a gesture the family will notice, especially from someone abroad.

What to write on the ribbon: 20 Latvian texts with translations

The first ribbon names the person, the second names the sender. Choose one line from each group. Capitalising Mammai, Tētim and other family words on the ribbon is customary.

For a mother or father

• Mūsu mīļotajai Mammai - To our beloved Mother / Mūža pateicībā - Tavi bērni - In lifelong gratitude, your children
• Mīļotajam Tētim - To our beloved Father / Atvadām ar mīlestību - ģimene - Farewell with love, the family
• Mīļotajai Mammai - mūžam piemiņā - To our beloved Mother, forever remembered / Tava ģimene - Your family
• Tētim, kas mācīja stipram būt - To Father, who taught us to be strong / Tavs dēls - Your son (Tava meita - Your daughter)

For a grandparent

• Mīļajai Vecmāmiņai - To our dear Grandmother / Mazbērni - The grandchildren
• Vectēvam - dzimtas balstam - To Grandfather, the pillar of the family / Bērni un mazbērni - Children and grandchildren

For a husband or wife

• Mūža mīlestībai - To the love of my life / Tava sieva - Your wife (Tavs vīrs - Your husband)
• Mīļotajam vīram - To my beloved husband / Tava sieva un bērni - Your wife and children

For a brother, sister or friend

• Mīļotajam brālim - To our beloved brother / Tavas māsas un brāļi - Your sisters and brothers
• Dārgajai māsai - To our dear sister / Tava ģimene un draugi - Your family and friends
• Mūža draugam - To a lifelong friend / Draugi un kolēģi - Friends and colleagues
• Draugam, kas vienmēr bija blakus - To a friend who was always there / Tavi mūža draugi - Your lifelong friends

From a company or colleagues

• Cienījamajam kolēģim - To a respected colleague / Kolēģi no [company name] - Colleagues from [company name]
• Mūsu ilggadējam darba biedram - To our long-time co-worker / Kolektīvs - The team
• Pateicībā par kopīgo ceļu - In gratitude for the road we shared / Sadarbības partneri - Business partners

For a corporate wreath we can print your logo on one ribbon and the text on the other. Send the logo as PNG or SVG with the order.

Two lines from Latvian folk songs

Latvian folk songs (dainas) are often used on ribbons and are understood by everyone. Two that fit a ribbon:

• Skaista saule pusdienā, / Vēl skaistāka noejot - Beautiful is the sun at noon, more beautiful still as it sets. Often used for a mother
• Brīdi laika man dzīvot, / Nedzīvot saules mūžu - A moment is mine to live, not the lifetime of the sun. A calm, philosophical line for anyone

Where the flowers go

Latvian funerals usually have a farewell ceremony at a cemetery chapel (kapliča), a church or a funeral home, followed by the burial. Flowers are delivered to the ceremony venue before it starts. Ask the family, the funeral home or the obituary for three things: the venue, the date and the time. We deliver to any cemetery, chapel, church or funeral home in Riga and within 50 km, and hand the flowers to the person you name, or place them at the venue if nobody is there yet.

If you cannot find out the venue in time, send a sympathy bouquet to the family's home instead. That is also the right choice for the days after the funeral, or for a memorial day later in the year.

Ordering from abroad

• Choose a wreath, arrangement or bouquet in our funeral flowers section, or add a printed ribbon to any funeral piece
• Write the ribbon texts in the order notes: line 1 and line 2 for each ribbon. Latvian diacritics (ā, ē, ī, ū, š, ž, č, ņ, ķ, ļ, ģ) print correctly, so copy them exactly
• Give the venue, date and time of the ceremony in the delivery address field
• Pay with an international card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. See how to send flowers to Riga from abroad for payment and time zone details
• Order the day before if you can. Same-day delivery in Riga is possible for orders placed by 17:30 Latvia time, and we print the ribbons ourselves, so ordering a day ahead is recommended but not required

Frequently asked questions

Funeral flowers with delivery in Riga

Related: How to send flowers to Riga from abroad | About flower delivery | Our flower shop at Tallinas iela 83