Flowers?

[Leslie J. Dorfman]

I have run into this a lot; in fact, I learned about the tradition when a
Russian entered my dorm room, saw two flowers on the table, and asked me
who had died.  As I understand it, one should only bring an even number of
flowers to someone in mourning.   When I have brought flowers to various
people, I have seen them carefully count to make sure the number was odd.
Since that first experience, however, I have been very careful.

I'm curious too.  Does anyone know the origin of the convention?

Leslie Dorfman
University of Michigan (Candidate)
serapion at umich.edu

On Fri, 17 Feb 1995, Jerry Ervin wrote:

> Has anyone else ever heard of the custom of ensuring that, when taking
> flowers on visiting a Russian home, one should take an _odd_ number
> of flowers for good luck?  (Some Russians I've talked to swear they've
> never heard of it; but others are equally sure it's
> quite common. What's the collective experience of SEELANGers?)
>
> Thanks
>
> --Jerry Ervin
> Ohio State Universit (emeritus)
>