Condolence Flowers in Turkey: What to Send and When

When someone dies in Türkiye, things move quickly. In Muslim families the burial usually takes place within a day, often after the midday or afternoon prayer, and relatives, neighbours and friends gather within hours. If you live abroad and hear the news late, knowing what is customary, and what can still arrive in time, helps you show your respect in the right way. This guide explains funeral timing, wreaths (çelenk), flowers for the family home, food customs such as helva and lokma, and what to say or write in Turkish.

One note before we start: Türkiye is diverse. Practices differ between regions, between Sunni and Alevi families, between devout and secular households, and in the country's Christian and Jewish communities. Treat what follows as common practice, and follow the family's lead whenever you can.

How a Turkish funeral usually unfolds

In Islamic tradition the deceased should be buried as soon as possible. In practice:

• If a death occurs in the morning, the funeral is often the same day; after a death in the evening or at night, it is usually the next day.
• The body is ritually washed and wrapped in a shroud, and the funeral prayer (cenaze namazı) is held at a mosque, typically straight after one of the daily prayers, most often the midday (öğle) or afternoon (ikindi) prayer.
• Mourners then accompany the deceased to the cemetery for the burial.
• Funeral details are passed on by family and friends and announced from the mosque. In many cities the municipality publishes death notices online, and newspapers carry death announcements (vefat ilanı).

Delays happen, for example when relatives travel from abroad or official procedures take longer, but you should plan on the funeral taking place within roughly 24 hours.

The çelenk: funeral wreaths in Türkiye

A çelenk is a large wreath or standing floral arrangement with a ribbon (kurdele) carrying the sender's name and a short message. Wreaths are especially common when the deceased was well known or active in public, professional or community life. They are often sent by companies, associations, colleagues and friends of the family.

Wreaths are most often placed:

• in the courtyard of the mosque where the funeral prayer is held
• at the family home or the entrance of their building, especially if the wreath will arrive after the funeral
• at the venue of a farewell ceremony, which secular families and public figures often hold at a workplace, theatre or university before the burial

Wreaths are sometimes taken on to the cemetery afterwards, but this varies.

Not every family or mosque welcomes wreaths. Some religious scholars regard them as a custom without basis in Islam, and some families say in the death notice that they would prefer a donation instead, often with the words "çelenk yerine" (instead of a wreath). Several Turkish charities send the family a condolence card for donations made in the deceased's name. If the notice asks for this, a donation together with a short condolence message is the most respectful choice.

Timing. Same-day delivery is available for orders placed before 14:00 Türkiye time (UTC+3, which is 11:00 in London and 12:00 in Berlin in winter); later orders are delivered the next day. For a funeral, order as early as possible, write the mosque name, district and funeral time in the delivery notes, and message us on WhatsApp so we can tell you what is realistic. If a wreath cannot arrive before the prayer, send it, or a bouquet, to the family home instead.

Ribbon text. Ribbons are short. Common wording:

• "Başsağlığı dileklerimizle" With our condolences, followed by your name or company name.
• "Allah rahmet eylesin, kederli ailesine başsağlığı dileriz" May God have mercy on the deceased; our condolences to the grieving family.
• "Derin üzüntümüzü paylaşıyoruz" We share your deep sorrow, a secular option.
• "Saygı ve sevgiyle anıyoruz" We remember them with respect and love.

Write the sender's name the way the family will recognise it, for example "Ayşe and Tom, London".

Flowers for the family home in the following days

The days after the funeral are a time of condolence visits (taziye). Relatives, neighbours and friends come to the house, and in many places neighbours bring cooked meals for the first days so that the grieving family does not have to cook. Visits commonly continue for about three days, and many families later hold a memorial gathering with Quran recitation or a mevlit, often on the seventh, 40th or 52nd day.

This is a good time for flowers. A calm, mostly white arrangement or a potted white orchid, delivered to the home with a short card, suits most families and lasts through the visiting days. Avoid bright, festive colours and large romantic arrangements. In very conservative households flowers may be less customary than a visit, a phone call or food; if you know the family is like this, a heartfelt message or a donation may be the better gesture. Our guide to Turkish flower etiquette explains colours in more detail.

Helva, lokma and other food customs

Food plays an important part in Turkish mourning:

• Helva. After a death, the family or relatives often cook helva, usually from semolina or flour, and share it with visitors and neighbours.
• Lokma. Small fried dough balls in syrup are handed out to neighbours and passers-by in memory of the deceased, often on the seventh or 40th day or on an anniversary. The custom is particularly associated with İzmir and the Aegean region.
• Meals for the family. In the first days, neighbours and relatives traditionally bring food to the house.

Nobody expects you to take part in these from abroad, but knowing them helps you understand what the family is going through in the first days.

What to say: condolence phrases in Turkish

• Başınız sağ olsun. The standard condolence, used by everyone regardless of religion. Literally "may your head be healthy", it means "I am sorry for your loss". The usual reply is "Dostlar sağ olsun" (may friends be well too).
• Allah rahmet eylesin. May God have mercy on him or her. Used for Muslims.
• Mekânı cennet olsun. May his or her place be in paradise. Used for Muslims.
• Allah sabır versin. May God give you patience.
• Acınızı paylaşıyorum. I share your pain. A neutral option for any family.
• Işıklar içinde uyusun. May he or she rest in light. Widely used by secular Turks and suitable for anyone.

You may also hear "Toprağı bol olsun" (may the soil be plentiful). It is traditionally said about non-Muslims, so it is best avoided unless you know it fits the family.

A short card might read: "Başınız sağ olsun. Allah rahmet eylesin. Acınızı yürekten paylaşıyoruz." (My condolences. May God have mercy on them. We share your pain with all our hearts.) A secular version: "Başınız sağ olsun. Işıklar içinde uyusun. Her zaman yanınızdayız." (My condolences. May they rest in light. We are always here for you.)

Your card message can be up to 300 characters in English, Turkish, German or Russian, and we can add a Turkish translation free of charge and hand-write it.

Alevi, non-Muslim and secular families

• Alevi families often hold the funeral rites at a cemevi (Alevi house of worship), with their own prayers and customs. Whether wreaths are welcome varies by family and community.
• Secular families usually accept wreaths readily, and a farewell ceremony may be held before the burial.
• Christian communities (Armenian, Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Catholic and others) hold funerals in church. Flowers and wreaths are customary, and burial does not always take place within a day.
• Jewish tradition generally does not include flowers at funerals; a condolence message or a donation is the usual gesture.

A quick checklist

1. Find out the time and place of the funeral, and whether the family has asked for donations instead of wreaths.
2. If the funeral is today and it is before 14:00 Türkiye time, order a wreath straight away and send us the mosque name, district and funeral time on WhatsApp.
3. If the funeral has already taken place, send white flowers or an orchid to the family home during the visiting days.
4. Keep the ribbon and card short; "Başınız sağ olsun" is always right.
5. You will receive a photo of the delivery by email and WhatsApp.

Browse our products or find the district on our delivery areas page, whether in Istanbul, Izmir or a small village. The delivery fee depends on the district and is shown in the cart before payment. For urgent orders in Istanbul, see also same-day flower delivery in Istanbul, and if this is your first order, our guide on how to send flowers to Turkey walks you through it. You can reach us any time on WhatsApp or at info@flowerturkiye.com.