“The custom of decorating graves was once universally prevalent; osiers were carefully bent over them to keep the turf uninjured, and about them were planted evergreens and flowers. . . .

The nature and color of the flowers, and of the ribbons with which they were tied, had often a particular reference to the qualities or story of the deceased, or were expressive of the feelings of the mourner. In an old poem, entitled Corydon’s Doleful Knell, a lover [declares]: . . .

I’ll deck her tomb with flowers,
The rarest ever seen;
And with my tears as showers,
I’ll keep them fresh and green.

The white rose . . . was planted at the grave of a virgin; her chaplet was tied with white ribbons, in token of her spotless innocence, though sometimes black ribbons were intermingled, to bespeak the grief of the survivors. The red rose was occasionally used in remembrance of such as had been remarkable for benevolence, but roses in general were appropriated to the graves of lovers.”

—Washington Irving, Rural Funerals. From The Sketch Book, 1820.