Ideas for a Memorial Day Centerpiece
This year, commemorate Memorial Day with a colorful centerpiece perfect for an outdoor backyard party. Memorial Day is a special holiday in which Americans pay homage to deceased loved ones who died during war time. It is a patriotic and festive day, often celebrated with family barbeque and fireworks. There's no reason to spend a lot of money in creating a memorable centerpiece. Let patriotism and red, white, and blue be your guiding themes.
Floral Centerpieces
Show your spirit with vases filled with red, white, and blue flowers. While red and white carnations and roses are widely available, you might also be able to find blue ones for the holiday. If not, you can easily dye your own flowers using blue food coloring dissolved in water. There's no need to stick to one type of flower. Fill a vase with different ones. Create an arrangement using any red, white, or blue flowers such as white lilies, red roses, and blue hydrangea. You can even go one step further by tinting the color of the water with food dye.
In addition, no flower is more symbolic of remembrance than the red poppy. Set out a series of tall and short vases filled with them. Or, for a fun project for kids, buy a set of red pens, wire garland with stars from a craft store, and small jingly bells. Tape the star wiring and bells to one end of the pen to resemble a flower blossom or even fireworks. Display them in a vase as if they were flowers.
Edible Centerpieces
Centerpieces you can eat are not only practical, but they are fun to look at. Fill a large glass jug or bowl with layers of red, white, and blue candies. Use M&Ms, peppermints, Twizzlers, gum balls, taffy, jelly beans, rock candy, and gummy bears. Tempt your friends and family with one large bowl or several smaller ones filled to the brim with fresh strawberries, cherries, and blueberries. Use a tiered fruit dish to display cookies cut out in the shapes of stars or flags. Decorate them with red, white, and blue icing and candy sprinkles.
Flag Centerpieces
Fill a vase with a collection of medium sized flags arranged upright in sand or pebbles, or stick miniature flags on toothpicks into frosted cupcakes on a tall cake stand.
Luminary and Candle Centerpieces
Centerpieces that give off some light are great for parties that last into the night. Create luminaries with painted recycled aluminum cans. Fill them with water and freeze. Using a hammer and nails, poke holes into the tin while the water is frozen. Possible decorative shapes include stars, firework designs, patriotic slogans, or even the name of a loved one serving in the military.
Use red, white, and blue colored sand to create a unique centerpiece from tea lights and votives. Layer the sand into the bottom of the votive and place the candle inside. Continue to fill the sides of the candle with alternating sand crystals. You could also purchase star shaped floating candles and display them in a large bowl of water.
However you choose to decorate, your centerpieces will help your guests celebrate this important holiday.
