Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature ~ Gerard de Nerval

I am residing in Malaysia, a country of multiracial with rich culture. One of the most significant celebrations among main ethnic groups is Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa. This festival is celebrated after fasting one full month in Ramadhan of Muslim calendar. In this part of Creative flower arrangement, I am sharing the floral designs for Hari Raya.

Concept of Festive Style for Hari Raya
As mentioned in Part4, seasonal flower arrangement makes a great impact on the design if relevant props are exploited in accordance to the celebration theme. Attractive props like ketupat (traditional Malays/Indonesians food), tudung saji (food cover), congkak board and wau bulan (literally means moon kite) are great to be included in the floral arrangement.

Tips for this arrangement: Compose from front view. The most commonly used flower for Hari Raya celebration is orchids. Candlestick Lily also can be considered as it looks similar to Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is Malaysia National Flower).

Floral Material:
1. Props/theme specific items: Topless hat, Ketupat, Palm leaves.
2. Primary Flowers -White carnation with pink lining and Heliconias.
3. Secondary flower - Orchids
4. Leaves or foliages - Leather ferns and palm leaves are utilized here to cover the oasis.
5. Filler - White peacock
6. Container shape - oval longish in shape about 50 cm in length. A few cubes oasis are used to hold the food cover.

From top left (going clockwise): palm leave, carnation, ketupat, heliconia


Getting started:
First design with Topless Hat
1. In order to make the topless hat stands steadily, one long cube of oasis is placed behind while two pieces of oasis are placed facing front view. A rather thick stick is also inserted diagonally to improvise the topless hat structure as shown below.

2. Next, move on to place the foliages. Trim the palm leaves to form a triangle shape. Palm leaves can be shaped easily by massaging them gently according to the direction we wish. Add some palm leaves behind the hat as well as some curvy thin stick on the left side behind the hat.


3. Then, insert leather ferns on the front oasis and a couple of palm leaves.

4. Introduce the primary flower i.e. carnation at various heights. It is then followed by placing orchids concentrating on the left hand side.

5. Since orchids do not have any specific shape, they are composed only by each other. White peacocks are introduced on the right hand portion to blend in with carnation.

6. Here is the floral arrangement designed for Hari Raya.



Second design with Heliconias
1. This design starts with preparing an oasis in an oval shaped black container.
2. Two huge Heliconias is next placed slightly on the left on different height.
3. Next, move on to place the palm leaves around to cover the oasis together with some leather ferns especially on the bottom layers.

From top left (clockwise): Orchids, Heliconias with palms leaves (Step 1,2,3), zoom in to view leather ferns' distribution, Ketupat are added in the design

4. Then, compose the primary flowers i.e. carnation.
5. Introduce some orchid carefully in-between the arrangement.
6. Last but not least, add white peacocks to brighten the composition.
7. Another flower arrangement designed for Hari Raya is ready!

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