Your December Flower Calendar: The Right Delivery Day for the Festive Season, Country by Country

Wanting to send flowers to someone far away in the last weeks of the year is only natural. The catch is that every country celebrates on its own day, and the holidays themselves are usually days without delivery. Miss the date by one day and the bouquet turns up after the party. So instead of going country by country, we've laid this out in calendar order, so you can plan around it.

Late November: Advent begins in Germany

From the end of November, Germany counts down to Christmas with four Advent Sundays. They're a lovely excuse to tell someone there that you're thinking of them. Since there's no delivery on Sundays, aim for a day before the Sunday itself.

22–24 December: last window for the UK

There's no delivery in the UK on Christmas Day (25 December) or Boxing Day (26 December). If the flowers should be there before Christmas, choose 22, 23 or 24 December. Red-and-white bouquets and arrangements dressed with eucalyptus and pine cones feel just right. Send flowers to the UK

23 December or the morning of the 24th: Germany

German Christmas is really an evening: Heiligabend, 24 December, when presents are opened under the tree. 25 and 26 December are public holidays. Shops and many offices close on the afternoon of the 24th, so book delivery for 23 December or, at the latest, the morning of the 24th.

Germany's Christmas flower is the poinsettia, or Weihnachtsstern. Red roses and red-and-white seasonal bouquets are well loved too. Send flowers to Germany

24 December, before the evening: France

The French family dinner, the réveillon, also takes place on the evening of 24 December. Invited by a French family? Have the flowers reach your host that same day, ahead of the evening, so they can dress the table with them. One warning: in France chrysanthemums belong to the cemetery and are never sent as a Christmas or New Year gift. Send flowers to France

30–31 December: Russia and Turkey

Russia's biggest night of the year isn't Christmas but New Year's Eve (31 December). Plan delivery for 30 or 31 December; 1–8 January is a long holiday. Flowers are given in odd numbers in Russia, as even numbers are for funerals, and in the winter cold good wrapping really matters. See send flowers to Russia and our article on Russia flower delivery from Turkey.

Living abroad and sending New Year flowers to family in Turkey? Same dates: New Year is celebrated on the night of 31 December and 1 January is a public holiday, so aim for 30 or 31 December. Send flowers to Turkey

7 January: Orthodox Christmas

Russia celebrates Christmas on 7 January, but it falls inside the 1–8 January holiday. That's why New Year is the real flower moment for loved ones in Russia.

Three quick checks before you order

1. Days that look closed in the delivery calendar can't be selected; Sundays are closed in every country.
2. The last week of December gets busy, so place your order at least a few days ahead.
3. You can write the card in the recipient's language: "Frohe Weihnachten", "Merry Christmas", "Joyeux Noël" or «С Новым годом!».

What to send?

If you'd like something that lasts beyond the holidays, go for potted plants; to brighten the festive table, choose arrangements. Curious which flowers can be misread in which country? Read flower gifting taboos by country.