Flowers for Chinese New Year - All You Need to Know

The essential Chinese holiday is the New Year, which is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Every year this period changes: in 2023, in the year of the Rabbit, the Chinese New Year begins on 22 January, so it’s a good opportunity to please someone with flowers. A combination symbolizes each year in China, repeated only once every 60 years. This combination represents one of the 12 zodiac animals of a particular color corresponding to one of the five elements (water, earth, metal, fire, and wood). The Chinese New Year 2023 will be symbolized by the animal Rabbit and the element Water, and the year's primary colors will be black and blue. This article will tell you what flowers to choose for the Chinese New Year, considering Eastern traditions and symbolism.  

What Flowers are Traditional for Chinese New Year?

The most popular and lucky Chinese plants traditionally used in home decorations are:

• plum blossom sprigs;
• orchids;
• peonies;
• sprigs of willow;
• roses;
• peach blossoms.

Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, symbolizes the arrival of spring, and blossoming flowers are often used for home decorations. They signify a wish for prosperity in the coming year, for the year to be 'in bloom.' During the first 15 days after the magical New Year's Eve, it is customary to visit family and friends to present gifts and wish for happiness and prosperity. 

The main presentation of the Chinese is money in a special small envelope.  As a symbolic gift and compliment to the hostess, it is recommended giving  flowers to your friends and beloved people for the lunar New Year. Since the New Year begins in February, when the floral assortment is not the greatest. But there are win-win options for gift-giving. 

So, you can read more about these flowers below.

1. Orchids

During the Chinese New Year, flowers shop or market sells many bouquets of orchids and pots of these flowers in wide varieties and shades. Orchids are delicate, beautiful, and elegant flowers. In China, they have long been considered to bring "great offspring", or fertility and abundance. In addition, these flowers symbolize sophistication, luxury, and innocence. Orchids are a treasured gift for the New Year.

2. Peonies

The peony is a beautiful flower with feminine beauty, integrity, love, and charm. It is known as the 'flower of wealth and honor.' Red peonies are incredibly encouraging. It means the giver wishes the young couple's family happiness, wealth, and prosperity in every sphere of life. This Chinese New Year flower arrangement will stand out from the rest of the bouquets with its sophistication and charm.

3. Sprigs of Willow

They are the buds of the willow tree, which look very pretty, almost like silk, releasing green shoots. They also mean monetary prosperity. The willow, a symbol of spring and fertility, has become to represent health, joy, and life. The consecrated flowers are attributed to miraculous New Year's night powers. They have long strived to extend their healing powers to their surroundings.

4. Plum Blossom Sprigs

These bright pink flowers symbolize perseverance and reliability, two qualities necessary for success in life. They can be found in abundance in parks and gardens at this time of year. Plum flowers are some of the most vital flowers for the Chinese. They symbolize steadfastness and courage. The plum combined with other plants means: 

• orchid (purity);
• bamboo (honesty);
• chrysanthemum (modesty).

5. Peach Blossoms

They are trendy flowers for Chinese New Year's Eve. These flowers are often used for decoration. The peach tree is considered sacred in China. According to custom, the flowers should be placed in beautiful and expensive vases. The fruit of the peach tree symbolizes longevity, which makes it of great importance to the Chinese, as well as the tree's flowers,  especially during the New Year. Peach blossoms also signify romance, prosperity, and growth. Therefore, they are popular with young single men and women looking for love.

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Can You Buy Other Flowers for the Chinese New Year?

To honor the national tradition, give red flowers. In China, scarlet symbolizes the element of fire and the triumph of vital energy. The whole country is decorated with national red lanterns on New Year's Eve, which color of greeting cards and amulets. 

You can give red roses to your sweetheart, mother, or grandmother. For friends and acquaintances on Chinese New Year, choose flower arrangements without a romantic context: gerberas, alstroemerias, or lisianthus. If you firmly associate scarlet with love meanings, select a mix, but be sure to ask for a few bright red buds to be added. You are advised to present turquoise and azure bouquets to friends, relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues. Choose arrangements of lucky Chinese plants with gerberas, chrysanthemums, and blue or light blue roses. 

Bottom Line

Discover the perfect bouquet with the Rosaholics for any occasion. Our Rosaholics florists would love to help arrange the most wonderful Chinese flower composition.

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