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Lunar New Year flower markets
In the last days of the old year, families in southern China and Hong Kong shop for blossom at night markets.
What happens
In Guangzhou, Hong Kong and across the Cantonese world, walking the flower market is part of the New Year itself. In the final days of the twelfth lunar month, parks and streets fill with stalls, the largest in Hong Kong at Victoria Park, and they stay open until the early hours of New Year's Day. Each plant is a wish. Peach blossom stands for luck in love, kumquat trees for gold, narcissus bulbs for good fortune, and tall stems of pussy willow for growth.
The flowers
PeachBranches of peach blossom, bought for romance and good luck.
KumquatSmall potted trees heavy with fruit, a sign of gold and wealth.
PaperwhiteThe water narcissus, forced to bloom exactly at New Year.
OrchidMoth orchids and cymbidiums are popular gifts.
Pussy willowTall stems of silvery catkins that stand for growth.More flowers and customs of Lunar New Year flower markets
PlaceOriginal text by the Phool desk, written with AI assistance. Background: "Chinese New Year" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Paperwhite: Zachi Evenor, CC BY 2.0, source
- Peach: Jack Dykinga, USDA, Public domain, source
- Orchid: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Jurong Lake Gardens: Brhb25, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kumquat: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pussy willow: Bernie, Public domain, source