Name Day Flowers: What to Give in Lithuania

In Lithuania the usual name day gift is flowers, and the bouquet is normally more modest than for a birthday: a few roses, a small bouquet of seasonal flowers or a potted plant. Choose by the person and by the season: chrysanthemums, dahlias and warm colours in autumn, roses and greenery in winter, tulips in spring. Below is how name days work, what to give different people and when to give it.

How name days work in Lithuania

Every day of the Lithuanian calendar has several names attached to it. Some come from Christian saints, others are old Lithuanian names. A person celebrates their name day on the date when their name appears in the calendar. Perhaps the best-known example is 24 June: on Joninės, the midsummer holiday, every Jonas celebrates his name day.

Some names appear in the calendar more than once; then a person usually celebrates one date that is customary for them or their family. If you are not sure which, ask their family or colleagues.

The calendar is simple to find: names are printed in tear-off and wall calendars and are easy to check online. In many families, especially among the older generation, a name day is celebrated as much as a birthday, so a greeting on that day can mean a lot to a mother, grandmother or aunt.

What people usually give

Flowers are the classic name day gift. Name days are usually quieter than birthdays, so the bouquet is usually small too: three, five or seven roses, a small mixed bouquet or a single potted plant. Sometimes a box of chocolates or a small present goes along with it. You do not need anything big: what matters is that you remembered.

At work it is often marked briefly: colleagues offer good wishes and flowers, and the person celebrating often treats everyone to something sweet.

Choosing by the person

A colleague

At work, a neat small or medium bouquet is best, since your colleague will need to carry it home, often on public transport. Neutral or seasonal colours suit almost anyone. If the whole team chips in, spend the money on quality rather than size.

If there is no vase at the office, choose a flower box: the flowers sit in damp floral foam, so no vase is needed. A potted plant for the desk is also a practical choice.

Your mother

For your mother the bouquet can be more personal. If you know her favourite flowers or colours, ask for exactly those. If she likes plants, an orchid or another potted plant will last longer than a bouquet. For older people, long-lasting flowers work well: chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, carnations and roses. Avoid strongly scented lilies, especially in a small room.

A friend

For a friend you can follow her taste more freely: brighter colours, a less usual combination or a single striking flower. A small but well-chosen bouquet in her favourite colours reads as attention rather than obligation. If she has a cat, leave out lilies, as they are toxic to cats.

A man

In Lithuania men are given flowers for their name day too, and it is a perfectly suitable gift. For a man, people usually choose:

• a simpler, cleaner shape with fewer small details;
• deep colours: dark red, burgundy, yellow, orange, or white with plenty of greenery;
• sturdy flowers: long-stemmed roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas, sunflowers in summer;
• plain wrapping without big ribbons.

The season matters

Seasonal flowers are the freshest, and a bouquet made from them looks natural.

• Autumn. Chrysanthemums, dahlias, asters, hydrangeas, rose hip branches. Warm colours look best: yellow, orange, copper, burgundy. Yellow roses with orange chrysanthemums make a simple, warm autumn combination. Dahlias last only a few days in a vase, while chrysanthemums last a long time.
• Winter. Roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, amaryllis, fir or eucalyptus greenery. In frost, have the bouquet wrapped well and never leave it in a cold car.
• Spring. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths. Tulips keep growing in the vase and bend towards the light, which is normal. Daffodils release a sap that shortens the life of other flowers, so before they go into a mixed bouquet they are kept in water on their own for a few hours.
• Summer. Peonies in June, then roses, sunflowers and all kinds of garden flowers. On hot days, keep it out of the sun and out of a hot car.

An odd number

In Lithuania it is customary to give living people an odd number of flowers: one, three, five, seven. Even numbers are associated with mourning. This matters most in small bouquets and with single roses, where the stems are easy to count. A single rose is also a perfectly good name day gift, especially for a colleague or as a small gesture.

A short card

Add a few words: a greeting, a short wish and your name. In Lithuanian, "Sveikinu vardo dienos proga" (congratulations on your name day) plus one personal sentence is enough. For a colleague, a short wish and the names of everyone who signed works well. Write the card in advance and attach it so it does not get wet.

When to give the flowers

The best time is the name day itself. A few practical points:

• At work, the easiest moment is in the morning or during a break when colleagues gather. Make sure there is a vase or jug so the bouquet does not wilt by evening.
• If the name day falls on a weekend, colleagues usually congratulate the person on the nearest working day, the Friday before or the Monday after.
• When visiting, hand over the flowers as you arrive, so the hosts can put them in water straight away.
• If you are not sure whether the person celebrates their name day, a small bouquet never feels like too much.

How much it costs

A small bouquet starts from 15 €. Roses are also sold by the stem, from 2,50 € each, so three roses start from 7,50 € and five from 12,50 €. Potted plants start from 8 €, flower boxes from 35 €. The final price depends on the season and the flowers you choose, so it helps to name your budget at the start.

Name day flowers in Kaunas

Gitanos gėlės is inside the Šilas supermarket at A. Baranausko g. 26 in Kaunas, open daily 8:00–23:00, so you can also pick up a bouquet in the morning on your way to work. You can pre-order it by SMS at +370 656 38880 or on gitanosgeles.lt.