FRUIT-FILLED ORANGE TREE BRINGS LUCK
Peach blossoms also an important part of tradition celebrating Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year (the Year of the Dog begins Feb. 16) is an important cultural event, and it is celebrated with plants and flowers that have significant historical meanings.
In the horticultural industry, we tend to think plants of Asian origin such as bonsai, lucky bamboo and money plants are relevant and important to mark this occasion, but that isn’t necessarily so.
For some clarification, Postmedia News talked to Richmond experts Ming Wu of Garden in Gardens Nursery and Paul Wong of Wong ’s Greenhouse and Nursery.
Wong told me that the various meanings of certain plants are based on centuries-old superstitions and are usually representative of wealth, health, prosperity, family and personal well-being. Originating in China, the symbolic meanings of certain plants can vary by region, and are shared by many Asian countries, like Vietnam and Indonesia, and in countries that follow the Chinese calendar.
How relevant are these floral connections to Canadians of Chinese heritage today?
“It’s amazing,” Wong said. “We set up a booth in the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond featuring the most significant plants used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and we see folks of all ages. Many families, of course, but also lots of young couples.
“The essence of this tradition is for families to go out on the eve of Chinese New Year to purchase plants or flowers at the opening bud stage, and have them open up overnight. This will bring good luck to the family all year.”
Wong says there are five important plants or flowers.
No. 1 is the orange tree, particularly the calamondin orange, which is smaller and has lots of fruit. Lemons, too, are popular because orange and yellow symbolize gold.
“The more fruit, the better luck,”hesaid.
Growers bring in orange trees about a year ahead of time to grow them in their greenhouses, making sure they produce lots of fruit in time for the special occasion. Wu, with his son Kevin, said the fragrance is also important, to fend off bad luck and bring more good luck.
Peach blossoms rank second in importance. Open blossoms symbolize good luck in one’s personal life and with family members. In addition, peaches are very much a symbol of longevity. An ancient legend says that “the peach of immortality” bloomed only once in 1,000 years. For anyone in business, peach blossoms are believed to bring in more customers, meaning greater prosperity and growth, and they also help with romance.
“The ‘Chinese sacred lily,’ a cream coloured narcissus, is particularly prized,” says Wong, “but they are very difficult to find. Today, we use a beautifully perfumed variety called ‘bridal crown.’”
The narcissus promotes good fortune and prosperity. Many years ago, we had a talented Chinese exchange student working with us at our garden centre in Chilliwack, and she took a narcissus bulb as it was beginning to sprout and cut it several times with a knife. This practice is called root carving. The leaves opened very contorted, looking almost like the feathered body of a chicken, with the blooms growing straight up the centre.
Pussy willows are the fourthmost important plant. They represent growth and a bountiful future. Gladioli round out the top five, and they signify steadily rising luck. Red glads would be the most auspicious.
Other red flowers are important too, such as red chrysanthemums and red anthuriums, which represent good luck in future earnings and endeavours.
Yellow is another important colour in chrysanthemums, particularly the single stem disbud mums. I have to convince growers to plant eight mums in a pot for even better luck.
Wu pointed out a few other significant symbolic plants: Lilies of any kind symbolize keeping the family together; kaffir lilies, also known as clivia, are lucky because they bring people together.
Orchids, particularly those that have multiple stems with lots of flowers, symbolize more children, and in business they can attract customers.
Wong said lucky bamboo stems have less of a connection to Lunar New Year because they are something seen all year round. With lucky bamboo towers, however, the number of stalks in each three-, five- and eight-inch tier matters because they symbolize reaching gold, step by step.
Traditionally, white flowers, particularly white roses, symbolize death and are avoided at Lunar New Year. Wu also mentioned that single-stem white orchids with one flower opening are bad luck. Wong said to avoid “fours” of anything.
It’s always interesting to learn more about the many cultures that makeup our Canadian mosaic, so that we will have a greater understanding and appreciation of our country’s diversity.