Name Day Flowers: How to Choose and Send Them
Name day flowers are a bouquet given on the feast day of the saint a person is named after, and in Russia they are as welcome as birthday flowers, just usually a little lighter and more personal. A medium bouquet in soft or seasonal colours, an odd number of stems if you give single flowers, and a short card naming the day is all the occasion needs.
The tricky part for most people abroad is not choosing the flowers but getting the date right and making sure they arrive on time. Below we go through the calendar, the flower choices that work, the etiquette Russians still notice, and the practical steps for ordering a delivery from another country.
How to find the right name day date
A name day, or imeniny, follows the Orthodox church calendar, where each day commemorates one or more saints. Someone named Tatiana celebrates on 25 January, Olga on 24 July, Elena on 3 June, Natalia on 8 September, Ekaterina on 7 December. Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov share 30 September with their mother Sofia, which makes that one of the busiest flower days of the autumn.
Many names appear in the calendar several times. Maria, Anna, Irina or Alexander have more than one feast day, and the traditional rule is that a person celebrates the date that falls closest after their birthday. If you are not sure which one your friend or relative keeps, simply ask them or a family member a week or two ahead. People are usually pleased you thought to check, and it saves you sending congratulations on a day that means nothing to them.
Keep in mind that the date is fixed in the Russian calendar, so it does not move with the weekday. If it lands on a Monday morning, the bouquet may need to reach an office rather than a home, and that is worth planning before you place the order.
Which flowers suit a name day
There is no single traditional name day flower, which gives you freedom. Florists in Russia tend to treat the occasion as warm and personal rather than grand, so a neat round bouquet or a small box arrangement works better than a huge armful. Spray roses, alstroemeria, eustoma, chrysanthemums and tulips in spring are reliable choices that last well in a vase.
Colour matters more than variety. For women, soft pink, peach, cream and lilac read as tender and celebratory; for a mother or grandmother, white with a touch of blue or pale yellow feels respectful and bright. For men, which is less common but increasingly normal, choose a compact bouquet in deep red, burgundy, white or green with structural elements such as eucalyptus, chrysanthemum santini or hypericum berries.
A nice touch is to tie the flowers to the saint or the season. Sofia, Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov fall at the end of September, when bouquets with chrysanthemums, asters and warm autumn tones look natural. Tatiana's Day in January is also Students' Day in Russia, so for a young Tatiana something cheerful and bright suits better than a formal arrangement.
Bouquets we can deliver
Etiquette Russians still notice
If you give loose stems or a mono bouquet, choose an odd number: 5, 7, 9 or 11. Even numbers are associated with funerals and remembrance, and many people, especially older relatives, will notice. In large designer bouquets of 25 stems or more the rule matters less, but sticking to odd numbers removes any doubt.
Be careful with yellow flowers for a romantic partner: some people still read them as a sign of separation, although among friends and family they are perfectly fine. Lilies have a strong scent that not everyone enjoys in a small flat, and they can be harmful to cats, so skip them if you know there are pets at home.
Congratulate on the day itself or slightly before, never after. In Russian tradition early wishes for a birthday are considered bad luck, but for a name day arriving a few hours early with flowers is perfectly acceptable, while a late bouquet feels like an afterthought.
What to write on the card
The standard Russian greeting is "S dnyom angela!", literally "Happy Angel's Day!", or the more formal "Pozdravlyayu s imeninami!". Either works on a card, and writing it in Russian, even in Latin letters if you prefer, is a warm gesture from someone abroad. Add one personal line in English or Russian: a memory, a wish for health, or simply that you are thinking of them.
Keep it short. A name day card is not a long letter, and two or three lines read better than a paragraph squeezed onto a small card. If the recipient is religious, a wish that their patron saint keeps them is appropriate; if not, stick to warm everyday wishes.
With us the card with your text is free, and delivery is anonymous by default, so the courier does not name the sender. If you want the person to know straight away who the flowers are from, make sure your name is on the card.
How to order name day flowers to Russia from abroad
Start by choosing a bouquet in our Bouquets catalogue and pay online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay. We deliver across Russia; city delivery costs 500 RUB, and for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order.
For a name day the most reliable option is to order in advance: you can pre-order 1-30 days ahead and pick a time window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or ask for an exact time with a margin of plus or minus 30 minutes. If you only remembered on the morning of the day, express delivery in large cities takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed.
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. If nobody is home, we arrange a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge. To agree the address, time and card text, or to see a photo of the bouquet before it goes out, message our manager on WhatsApp. Full conditions are on the Delivery and payment page.
Helping the bouquet last
You will not be there to care for the flowers, but a short note on the card or a message to the recipient helps. The essentials are simple: trim the stems at an angle by 1-2 cm, put them in clean cool water, and change the water every day or two. Remove any leaves that sit below the waterline, since they rot quickly and cloud the water.
Keep the vase away from radiators, direct sun and fruit bowls; ripening fruit releases ethylene, which makes petals drop sooner. In a warm Russian flat in winter, a cooler spot overnight such as a hallway can add several days to the life of roses and chrysanthemums.
Chrysanthemums and alstroemeria often last two weeks or more, roses and eustoma around a week, tulips five to seven days. If longevity matters, for example for an elderly relative who will enjoy the flowers for a long time, lean towards the longer-lasting varieties when you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is a name day as important as a birthday in Russia?
For many families it is a smaller but still meaningful occasion, especially among older and religious people. Flowers and a warm message are expected; a large present usually is not.
How do I know which saint's day my friend celebrates?
Traditionally a person celebrates the feast day of their namesake saint that falls closest after their birthday. If the name has several dates in the calendar, the simplest way is to ask them or a relative.
Can I order name day flowers on the day itself?
Yes. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, though pre-ordering 1-30 days ahead with a chosen time window is more relaxed.
Will the recipient know the flowers are from me?
Delivery is anonymous by default, so the courier does not name the sender. Write your name on the free card if you want them to know who sent the bouquet.
How many flowers should I give for a name day?
Any odd number works for loose stems, such as 5, 7 or 9. Even numbers are linked with mourning in Russia, so avoid them in small bouquets.
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