02.25.09
A Gift of Flowers
Part of the icing on the cake of Paris is all of the beautiful things that are a part of everyday life - like flowers! How wonderful to walk along the street and pass open flower markets and flower shops! Not only are the flowers colorful and lovely, but the arrangements make such elegant presentations.
I remember how curious I was when I was first visiting Paris about the French etiquette and customs. Though not too different from our habits at home, it certainly seems easier to scoop up a beautiful hostess gift of flowers with all of the abundant selection right on your way. The traditional p’s and q’s of French flower etiquette is: An odd number of flowers (except 13) preferably in a vase, excepting white lilies or chrysanthemums which are for funerals, carnations which are bad luck, or any white flowers which are reserved for weddings, is the advised prescription. But I doubt such a refreshing gift would be refused in any form!