Chinese New Year (CNY) or Spring Festival or Lunar New Year has a rich history behind it. Celebrated in January or February each year, China goes on holiday, unlike the rest of the world, for seven days.
Flowers hold special significance（特殊意义，tè shū yì yì） during CNY, which is celebrated in several Asian countries including Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. Here we've rounded up the top lucky flowers that are most often gifted and used as decorations at Chinese New Year.
Orchids（兰花，lán huā） — Fertility and Abundance（多子多福，duō zǐ duō fú）
During Chinese New Year, any flower market（花市，huā shì） or shop will have abundant bouquets, pots and arrangements of Orchids — the variety and colors are limitless.
Orchids are delicate, beautiful and elegant flowers, and in China, they have long been considered to be symbolic of 'many children' or fertility and abundance.
Orchids also signify refinement（精致，jīng zhì）, luxury（华贵，huá guì） and innocence（纯真，chún zhēn）. These flowers make for valuable gifts in this season.
Peach blossoms（桃花，táo huā） — Prosperity and Growth（繁荣兴旺，fán róng xìng wàng）
Very popular around this time, these flowers are popular in decorations.
The plant is considered sacred in China. The flowers are customarily placed in beautiful and valuable vases.
The peach fruit represents longevity（长寿，cháng shòu） and that makes the fruit and its flowers very important to the Chinese, especially around this time. In addition, peach blossom symbolizes romance（爱情，ài qíng）, prosperity, and growth. These are popular with single young people, looking for love.
Plum blossoms （梅花，méi huā）— Endurance and Courage（坚忍勇气，jiān rěn yǒng qì）
These bright pink flowers symbolize perseverance（毅力，yì lì） and reliability（可信，kě xìn） — two traits essential to be successful in life. Very common around this time of the year in parks and gardens. This is one of the most important symbolic flowers for the Chinese. It represents endurance and courage. The plum, along with orchid (purity), bamboo (uprightness), and chrysanthemum (humility), constitute 'the four nobles'（四君子，sì jūn zǐ）.
Peonies （牡丹，mǔ dān）— Richness and Peace（富贵平和，fù guì píng hé）
This is a beautiful flower that is associated with feminine beauty（女性美，nǚ xìng měi）, innocence, affection, and charm. It is known as the 'flower of riches and honor'（富贵之花，fù guì zhī huā）. Red peonies are particularly auspicious.
Narcissus or Water Fairy Flowers （水仙花，shuǐ xiān huā）— Good Fortune and Prosperity（吉祥兴旺，jí xiáng xīng wàng）
This flower is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, and has a unique delicate appearance. One of the most auspicious flowers in Chinese New Year, they can grow in a shallow dish of water and pebbles, and they look and smell lovely.
Key Words & Phrases
象征：symbol
jīn qián jīng cháng bèi shì zuò yī gè rén dì wèi de xiàng zhēng
金钱经常被视作一个人地位的象征。
Money is often seen as a symbol of someone's status.
娇嫩的：delicate
lán huā shì jiāo nèn 、měi lì 、yōu yǎ de huā
兰花是娇嫩、美丽、优雅的花。
Orchids are delicate, beautiful and elegant flowers.
在…中受好评：be popular with...
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这款应用在千禧一代中很受好评。
This app is quite popular with the millennials.
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