A Year in Bloom: The Grace & Blooms Guide to Jewish Holiday Flowers

By Emily Limas, Founder & Lead Designer at Grace & Blooms

A Note from Emily

Here in Naples, where the warm Gulf breeze rustles the palms and the evenings end in a blaze of golden light, every gathering feels like a special occasion. For me, flowers are the language we use to give these moments a voice. They speak of joy, of remembrance, of gratitude, and of community.

The inspiration for this guide comes directly from our design philosophy. For a Hanukkah celebration here in our beautiful city, for example, our approach is to create a centerpiece that feels both traditional and deeply personal. Pairing the most beautiful blue orchids, their petals the color of the twilight sky over the water, with white roses that seem to glow from within, like little lanterns.

The thought of that arrangement on a family’s table, surrounded by the light of the menorah and the warmth of loved ones, is what confirmed my calling: flowers are not just decorations; they are keepers of heritage and companions to tradition.

This guide was born from that understanding. It is not a theological text, but a heartfelt invitation to explore the seasons of the Jewish calendar through the artistry of flowers.

It is a resource for our friends and neighbors. For the gracious hostess preparing her home for Rosh Hashanah, for the thoughtful friend wanting to send a respectful gift, and for every family looking to bring more beauty to their cherished celebrations.

It is our privilege to honor these meaningful moments alongside you. 💜
Every bloom tells a story.

TL;DR

• A Focus on Welcome & Celebration: Floral gifts are most appropriate for joyous holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Passover, and Hanukkah, but are traditionally avoided during periods of mourning, such as shiva.
• Symbolism in Color & Bloom: White often symbolizes purity and new beginnings for the High Holidays, while blues and whites reflect the light of Hanukkah. Each holiday carries a unique palette and floral story.
• Naples-Specific Tip: Our beautiful, humid climate calls for thoughtful flower choices. Long-lasting blooms like orchids, lilies, and vibrant tropicals are wonderful, climate-smart selections that ensure your arrangements look stunning throughout your celebration.

Our Brand Philosophy: We believe that the most beautiful arrangements are a reflection of your family’s unique story. Artistry, care, and a deep respect for tradition are at the heart of every piece we design.

Rosh Hashanah: Welcoming a Sweet New Year

The Spirit of Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time of profound reflection and joyful hope. It is a celebration of new beginnings, marked by the sounding of the shofar and the taste of apples dipped in honey.

The desire is for a “sweet new year,” and the floral arrangements we design for this holiday are meant to be a visual echo of that beautiful prayer. This is a moment for elegant, welcoming tablescapes that make family and friends feel cherished.

Floral Inspiration for Rosh Hashanah Flowers

For our clients in Naples, from Port Royal and Marco Island to Bonita Springs, the Rosh Hashanah table is often the centerpiece of the home. Tradition holds that white is the dominant color, symbolizing purity, renewal, and a fresh start. We love to compose Rosh Hashanah flowers that feel both classic and alive with meaning.

• Creamy White Hydrangeas: Their full heads suggest abundance and gratitude.
• Delicate White Lisianthus: An elegant and refined choice for a classic look.
• Timeless White Roses: A universal symbol of new beginnings.
• Honeycomb-Toned Accents: Golden craspedia or warm, honey-colored dahlias add a touch of sweetness.

Many families also honor the tradition of the simanim, symbolic foods that represent hopes for the coming year. This inspired us to create a design for a client recently that included branches of pomegranates nestled amongst the blooms, their ruby-red seeds peeking out as a nod to righteousness and abundance.

It’s these personal, thoughtful details that transform a simple bouquet into a true story. As we read in My Jewish Learning, a leading resource for Jewish culture and education, this holiday is rich with layers of meaning, and we feel it is our privilege to help reflect that beauty.

Hanukkah: A Festival of Miraculous Light

The Spirit of Hanukkah

As the days grow shorter in December, Hanukkah arrives to fill our homes with light, hope, and warmth. It is the Festival of Lights, a celebration of miracles and the rededication of the Temple. The holiday’s spirit is one of glowing warmth and joyful perseverance.

Here in Southwest Florida, where our winter is gentle and green, flowers can make a Hanukkah celebration feel even more special and festive.

Hanukkah Arrangements and Color Palettes

The traditional colors of Hanukkah are blue and white, representing the flag of Israel and symbolizing faith, sky, and purity. This palette offers so many stunning creative avenues for Hanukkah arrangements.

• Blue Delphinium: Tall, elegant spires of blue blossoms bring a sense of height and drama to a mantelpiece or entryway.
• White Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath): Creates a soft, cloud-like effect.
• Crisp White Snapdragons: Add a beautiful, linear element to compositions.
• White Phalaenopsis Orchids: Especially wonderful in our Naples climate, their resilience means they will look beautiful for all eight nights of the celebration and beyond, making them a perfect, lasting gift for a hostess.

A composition of pristine white orchids with accents of deep blue thistle or shimmering silver dusty miller can feel both modern and timeless.

Purim: A Carnival of Joy and Celebration

The Spirit of Purim

Purim is, without a doubt, one of the most festive and joyous days on the Jewish calendar. It’s a holiday filled with costumes, feasting, and celebration, commemorating the saving of the Jewish people as recounted in the Book of Esther.

The mood is exuberant, playful, and full of life, making it a perfect occasion for bold, vibrant, and expressive floral designs.

Floral Inspiration for a Joyful Celebration

This is the time to embrace color in all its glory! Think of a riotous, joyful mix of textures and hues that feel like a party in a vase. In Naples, we are so lucky to have access to incredible tropical flowers year-round that capture this celebratory spirit perfectly.

• Brightly Colored Hibiscus & Heliconia: These tropical blooms add an exotic, festive flair.
• Cheerful Gerbera Daisies: Available in shades of fuchsia, orange, and sunny yellow for a stunning, carnival-like feel.
• Jewel-Toned Anemones & Ranunculus: A smaller, yet equally vibrant, choice that can bring a burst of festive energy to any room.

When designing for a Purim celebration, we often think about the tradition of mishloach manot: the giving of gifts of food and drink to friends and family. A beautiful, bright bouquet makes a wonderful addition to these gift baskets, or can be a thoughtful gift on its own for the host of a Purim feast.

The goal is to create something that makes you smile, a floral expression of pure, unadulterated joy.

Passover: A Celebration of Freedom and Spring’s Rebirth

The Spirit of Passover

Passover, or Pesach, is a cornerstone of the Jewish year, a holiday that tells the story of liberation and freedom. It is also deeply connected to the season of spring, a time of renewal, rebirth, and blossoming hope.

The Passover Seder is a meal rich with ritual and symbolism, and the flowers that adorn the table should reflect that sense of elegance, meaning, and fresh beginnings.

Perfect Passover Blooms

As we celebrate spring’s arrival here in Florida, the floral palette for Passover is naturally soft, fresh, and beautiful. It’s a time when some of the most beloved flowers are in their peak season.

• Peonies: With their lush, layered petals, they are a breathtaking choice, symbolizing prosperity and honor.
• Lilies: A classic and meaningful choice. Their trumpet-like shape can be seen as heralding the arrival of spring and freedom.
• Tulips: The quintessential spring flower, representing rebirth and new beginnings.

We love designing with crisp white lilies or soft blush peonies, accented by gentle green foliage like eucalyptus or myrtle. According to the experts at the Naples Botanical Garden, incorporating greenery that thrives locally connects a celebration to its unique sense of place.

Each holiday has its own unique spirit, and we love to design custom arrangements that are perfect for your family's celebration, whether it’s incorporating specific blooms that are meaningful to you or designing a piece that perfectly fits your Seder table.

Shavuot & Sukkot: Honoring the Harvest

Shavuot and Sukkot are two beautiful holidays centered around the harvest and our connection to the natural world. Shavuot, which takes place in the late spring, celebrates the giving of the Torah and is traditionally marked by adorning homes and synagogues with fresh greenery and flowers.

Sukkot arrives in the fall, a week-long festival where families build a temporary hut, or sukkah, to eat in, recalling the temporary dwellings of the ancient Israelites.

For Shavuot, the tradition is to bring the beauty of the harvest indoors. Lush, abundant arrangements filled with greenery are central to the celebration. For Sukkot, the celebration moves outdoors into the sukkah itself.

It is customary to decorate the sukkah with fruits and flowers, making it a beautiful and fragrant place to share meals. In our warm climate, arrangements featuring sunflowers, marigolds, and zinnias hold up beautifully outdoors.

It’s a holiday that truly invites us to celebrate under the open sky, surrounded by the bounty of the earth.

A Note on Sympathy and Shiva

In moments of sorrow, it is natural to want to reach out and offer comfort. Flowers are often our chosen messengers of care. However, in Jewish tradition, it is important to understand the customs surrounding mourning.

During the week-long period of mourning known as shiva, it is not customary to send flowers to the home of the bereaved.

As explained by Chabad.org, a global resource for Jewish life and education, the focus during this time is on solemn reflection, and the bright presence of flowers can be seen as a distraction from the grieving process.

Instead of flowers, a thoughtful and appropriate gesture would be to send a fruit or kosher food basket, or to make a charitable donation in memory of the deceased. It is a beautiful way to show you care while honoring a tradition of profound respect for the mourning process.

Once the shiva period has concluded, sending a simple, elegant plant or a tasteful arrangement can be a lovely gesture of ongoing support.

Honoring Your Traditions, Together

From our little studio here in Naples, it is our greatest joy to help you mark the moments that matter most. Flowers are a bridge between beauty and tradition, a way to tell a story without saying a word.

Finding the right Jewish holiday flowers in Naples, FL should be a joyful process, not a stressful one. Whether you are setting a table for a joyous holiday feast, sending a message of light and hope, or simply bringing the beauty of the season into your home, we are here to help you do it with grace and artistry.

Thank you for letting us be a small part of your family’s beautiful story. We look forward to celebrating with you! :)

About the Author

Emily Limas is the founder and lead designer of Grace & Blooms, a boutique floral studio in Naples, Florida. Driven by a passion for floral artistry, Emily believes flowers are more than arrangements. They are keepers of remembrance, connection, and celebration. Her designs blend timeless beauty with cultural sensitivity, helping families honor life’s most meaningful occasions.

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