Lunar New Year Fair

What is Lunar New Year Fair?

The Lunar New Year Fair is a lively outdoor market set up for several days before Lunar New Year, filled with stalls selling flowering plants, fruit trees, and festive decorations. The fair is known for its vibrant displays of narcissus, peony, chrysanthemum, peach blossoms, and mandarin plants, all considered auspicious for the coming year. Crowds gather to browse, buy, and enjoy the festive atmosphere, with some stalls also offering creative New Year-themed goods.

Where does Lunar New Year Fair come from?

The tradition of the Lunar New Year Fair dates back to the Ming Dynasty, when flower markets were held daily in the Pearl River Delta. By the 1860s, these markets became annual events held only at Lunar New Year. The custom spread from Guangzhou, its source, to Hong Kong and overseas with Cantonese migration. In Guangzhou, the fairs are called 'flower streets' because they take over main roads, turning them into pedestrian markets during the festival.

How Lunar New Year Fair is made

The fair is set up in parks or on city streets a few days before Lunar New Year. Vendors arrange stalls with fresh flowering plants like narcissus, peony, chrysanthemum, peach, and mandarin, along with festive goods. In Hong Kong, about half the stalls sell flowers and plants, while the rest offer dry goods for the holiday. The market is busiest just before and after midnight on New Year's Day, as sellers aim to clear their stock before the fair closes.

When and where Lunar New Year Fair is used

The fair is visited by families and individuals as part of New Year traditions, especially in Cantonese communities. People buy flowers and plants to decorate their homes, believing they bring luck and prosperity. The custom of 'walking the flower market' is a social and festive outing. In Hong Kong, it is common for local leaders to visit, and for students and youth groups to run their own stalls with creative products.

Forms of Lunar New Year Fair

While the core tradition is similar, each city has its own style. In Hong Kong, major fairs are held in places like Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park, while in Guangzhou, each district hosts its own 'flower street'. The types of flowers and goods may vary, and some stalls feature unique, themed items related to the zodiac animal of the year. The tradition has also spread to Cantonese communities overseas.

What Lunar New Year Fair means

The Lunar New Year Fair is deeply tied to Cantonese New Year customs, symbolizing renewal and good fortune. The flowers sold have auspicious meanings, such as prosperity (peach), luck (mandarin), and longevity (narcissus). The fair is a major social event, and the act of visiting is itself a tradition. It reflects the importance of flowers in Chinese New Year celebrations and the continuity of cultural practices across generations.

The flowers of Lunar New Year Fair

PeachA flowering fruit tree from China, grown for its pink blossoms and sweet fruitChrysanthemumAutumn-blooming flower with thousands of varieties, cherished in East Asia and beyondNarcissusSpring-flowering bulbs with trumpet-shaped blooms in white, yellow, and orangePeonyLarge spring flowers in pink, red, white, yellow and purple, grown in gardens worldwidePaperwhiteA tall, white-and-yellow narcissus grown for scent and indoor bloomsWild daffodilA pale yellow spring flower and the national emblem of WalesPoet's daffodilA fragrant white daffodil linked to ancient Greek myth and poetryPygmy daffodilA tiny yellow daffodil from the mountains of Portugal and Spain

Questions people ask about Lunar New Year Fair

Good reading and sources

• Lunar New Year Fair on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data