Chinese New Year Flowers

The Chinese consider the Lunar New Year time very auspicious and celebrate with much zeal and panache. Equivalent to holy rites of passage, the New Year’s too in that respects is a very important aspect of the Chinese culture, and every care is taken to celebrate the occasion with much gusto.

Flowers are an integral part of the Chinese New year celebrations, as they are said to bring good luck into the family. Adding colour to any Chinese decoration, here is look at some of the important Chinese New Year Flowers.

• Chinese New Year Lily:

One of the most common flowers in China, also known as Water fairy or Sacred Lily, the Narcissus is a symbol of purity. Its snow-white colour coupled with the leafy green-ness, the fragrance and beautiful appearance, gives a sense of elegance and delicateness.

• Cinabells:

The cluster of bell like flowers that are in beautiful hues of pink, white and rose, have one of the most pleasant appearances and hence are used extensively for New Year decorations. The Chinese believe that the flower ushers in good luck and hence using in in bunches extensively is usually the norm.

• Plum Blossoms:

Plum blossoms are usually considered to be a symbol of determination and trustworthiness by the Chinese and hence are used in multitudes of clusters for decorations during the Chinese New Year. Also considered to be symbolic of the relationship bond, Plum Blossoms hence are quite integral to any New Year decoration.

• Sunflowers:

Signifying luck and goodwill, Sunflowers are generally considered to be the ushers of good luck and prosperity. The bright yellow hues of the Sunflower are enough to add cheer to any corner of the house and hence help in sprucing up any New Year decoration.

• Peach and Apricot Blossoms:

Ranging from pale pink, coral to almost deep red in hue, Peach blossoms are generally coupled with Apricot blossoms which are generally in lighter shades like pink and whites. Since Apricot flowers are quite delicate in nature, the peach flowers in conjunction add more life and colour to the decoration

• Peonies:

Being an inherent part of the Chinese culture since ancient times the Peonies, have medicinal properties too. Generally the flower has to have bloomed fully in order to be utilized on the New Year’s Day decorations and their attractive pink hues are coveted in any decoration. Considered to be the flower by art and culture connoisseurs, the peony has been generally associated with nobility and hence is a symbol of affluence.

• Azalea:

Featuring in the tales of the Chinese folklores, the azaleas are said to have sprung from the cuckoo, and hence are generally blood red in colour. Also known as rhododendron, the bright, flashy hues of the azalea are generally coupled with its other variety which is delicate lavender in colour and together they make up for the most exquisite decorative pieces.

• Camellia:

Usually occurring in the form of shrubs, the common pink variety of the Camellia are generally carefully pruned while in the shrub state and then sold. The other variety which includes flowers that are red or white in colour, generally bloom in the later part of the year hence are rarely utilised for New Year decorations. The flower however has a very special place in the New Year Celebrations, as it is used as an offering in the Temples.

Another factor to keep in mind for any Chinese New year decoration is the colour red and gold since they are considered auspicious. Hence with the right flower and colour decorations you can have a spectacular Chinese New Year celebration, which is truly memorable.