Not Sure There Is Really An Answer To This, But Here Goes.

[anotheoldgit]

Why since Princess Diana's death, we have seen an escalation in the laying of floral tributes, why?

I ask all the atheists amongst us, is it the same as praying?

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/25/12/3E9DC4C800000578-0-image-a-9_1490444990793.jpg

Can we have a sensible debate on this one without it turning once again into a criticism of my choice of subject, headline or whatever?

Please!!!!

[pixie374]

I think it's just a mark of sympathy when there is little else you can do. It isn't anything to do with religion.

[ummmm]

I think it was happening long before Diana.

[Islay]

I don't believe it has been an increase since Diana's death, I don't think it has anything to do with praying either. For me it is a chance to show a little respect to those that have lost their life or for whatever disaster has happened.

[woofgang]

I think the answer is simple.....people did it and felt they got something from doing it. Even before that, round here, it was common and still is, to see flowers laid at the site of road accidents

[emmie]

perhaps it is instead of prayer, but going on the Trafalgar square vigil that happens too. I can't honestly give you an answer as to why floral tributes are laid now, more then ever since Diana's death, perhaps that is the only way some can express their grief, after all people lay flowers at the graveside of their loved ones, so maybe they feel an affinity with those that have died.

[mikey4444]

As far as I can see, what happened after Diana's was akin the some kind of mass hysteria.

The millions of pounds wasted on those tons of flowers at the Palace would have been better spent on any of Diana's favourite charities, instead of making fortunes for florists. I am certain that Diana would have preferred that method of showing respect.

Like Pixie, I think it had begger all to do with religion.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

Good answer mikey except I must question your "I think it had begger all to do with religion".

It's very hard to explain, but why do most people clasp their hands together after laying the flowers as in the act of praying?

I agree about the waste of money, much better perhaps to use that money to pay for a lasting memorial plaque, to be placed on Westminster Bridge.

[Sqad]

I agree with mikey.....mass hysteria....exhibitionism and it didn't happen to the same extent since Dianna's death, in fact in the 50's 60's and 70's one very rarely came across such emotional exaggeration.
It is couple with the birth of a child.....where a cardboard stork, 20 feet high is stuck in the garden with the message " Tarquin arrived today 8lbs 6 ozs" ...who cares for God's sake?
Photographs on trees of the person whose birthday it is.
The constant R.I.P of AB
All manifestations of different degrees of exhibitionism and mass hysteria.

[sp1814]

AOG

One of the key images during the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana were the flower tributes outside Kensington Palace. But this wasn't the first time such tributes have been laid. Whenever there was a serious road accident prior to this, we would always see bunches of flowers where the incident occurred.

With Diana, it was exactly the same - but on a much larger scale, simply because there were more people who were aware of her, and 'liked' (as much as you can like someone you've never met) her.

The flowers then became 'a thing'. People were visiting the Palace, and laying flowers because it had taken on a life of its own. I suspected at the time that part of the reason my be to pay respect and another reason was that people wanted to make a point about the depth of feeling both to the establishment and the Royal Family.

I do not think it's the atheistic version of praying.

[emmie]

aog
that may happen, but if we put plaques all around London for the fallen in conflicts we won't have any room left.

[mikey4444]

AOG....just habit I suppose.

One thing I find very sad, are those faded bunches of carnations left by the side of the road, weeks after they were left there.

[pixie374]

Some people might pray as well- not everybody though.

[Zacs-Master]

It's a tangible expression of compassion and sympathy. Simple as that.

[hc4361]

I cannot agree that flowers were left at the site of fatal road accidents before Diana's death to the same extent as after.

[sp1814]

Sqad

True - there were scenes during the funeral which looked and sounded very odd. There definitely was a change in the air, but I think it was fuelled more by anger than exhibitionalism.

British people in the late 20th century became much happier to express feelings (possibly as a result of the influence of Americana than anything else) than previous generations.

[anotheoldgit]

Islay

/// I don't believe it has been an increase since Diana's death, ///

I don't know how old you are but Diana died 20 years ago, can you remember much of what happened before that date?

Apart from the occasion spray of flowers left at the scene of a road accident and left by a relative or friend, for some reason there weren't such mass floral tributes before the death of Diana.

[sp1814]

And yes - a truly horrible waste of money. I wondered at the time whether (don't laugh) the flowers could have been dispatched to a perfume company to make bottles of scent that could then be auctioned off for one of the charities Diana supported.

[emmie]

i have often seen flowers laid at the site where someone has died, often its a cyclist killed here in the capital.

[hc4361]

Yes, it is very common now, emmie, but I don't remember it before Diana's death.
My school mate was killed by a lorry when I was 7 and I walked past the site every day and never noticed flowers. I certainly never laid any and neither did the school.
I can remember the first time I noticed a bunch of wilted flowers tied to a tree and it was after Diana's death.

[Islay]

I am old enough to remember beyond 20 years AOG, but why single me out when others have said that it happened before Diana's death,
a young man died on a road near where I lived at least 10 years before Diana's death and there were loads of flowers left for him on a tiny country road!