Chinese New Year is the most important festival to Chinese people. However, even though people have more commonly stressed the celebrations like fireworks and family reunions, a large part of the festival’s soul is still deeply rooted in the concept of symbolism. Indeed, in Chinese culture, everything can attain a special meaning based on its shape, pronunciation, color, etc. Thus, even though not frequently discussed, flowers and fruits can also play an important role in welcoming good energy in this festival time.
While flowers are more chosen for their seasonal beauty and auspicious meanings, some fruits are favored because of their pronunciation, color, shape, and cultural associations. In this guide, we will explore the cultural meaning behind these traditions. And you’ll be getting a basic knowledge about what to bring when visiting a Chinese family during such festive days.
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- What is the Cultural Symbolism Behind Chinese New Year Flowers and Fruits?
- Most Popular Chinese New Year Flowers and Their Meanings
- Most Popular Chinese New Year Lucky Fruits and Their Meanings
- Other Popular Chinese New Year Decorations to Bring Luck
- How to Place CNY Flowers and Fruits for Feng Shui?
- Have a CNY Trip to China with China Xian Tour
What is the Cultural Symbolism Behind Chinese New Year Flowers and Fruits?
Chinese New Year is a critical time of the year, which marks a brand new beginning for everyone living in this culture. So that in such a context, everything in daily life, including flowers and fruits, then comes to be tied to “good fortune”, one of the most appreciated concepts for the festival. Traditionally, people believe fruits can attract positive energy and prosperity, while flowers represent vitality, romance, purity, and the renewal of life. Thus, even though they are not mentioned as formally and specifically as other traditions like family reunion or red pockets, they always show up in all the households and never miss the day.
Most Popular Chinese New Year Flowers and Their Meanings
1. Plum Blossoms – Resilience & Hope
- Symbol: Endurance, renewal, perseverance
Plum blossoms bloom in the coldest winter months, becoming the brightest color shining through frost and snow. And such characteristic (e.g. not afraid of harsh condition) makes them powerful symbols of strength and resilience. Since Chinese New Year also comes in winter, having plum blossoms at home also delivers a hope for a brighter and more promising coming year. And they are also widely used in Chinese New Year floral displays to invite courage and fresh beginnings in spring.
2. Peach Blossoms – Romance & Prosperity
- Symbol: Love, vitality, growth
Peach blossoms are among the most popular Chinese New Year flowers in southern China. They have long been a symbol of romance and positive relationships (luck for romantic relationship is also called “Peach Blossom Luck” in Chinese), while also signifying prosperity and personal growth. They are greatly stressed for their soft pink blooms and also their association with spring renewal. They have long been typical auspicious decorations for homes seeking harmony and luck in relationships, especially during the festival.
3. Orchids – Luxury, Elegance & Friendship
- Symbol: Elegance, refinement, fertility
Orchids are admired for their graceful beauty, and in Chinese culture, they are traditional symbols of luxury, refinement, and scholarly virtue. During Chinese New Year, it is common for people to expect a prosperous beginning, thus orchids are often displayed to promote harmony, lasting friendship, and abundant blessings in one’s life. Their delicate form also symbolizes fertility and ongoing growth, so it would be a good choice if you want to send gifts to others or put decor at home.
4. Narcissus/Water Fairy – Good Fortune & New Beginnings
- Symbol: Prosperity, luck, success
Narcissus, which also called the “water fairy flower,” is one of the most auspicious flowers that people would have for Chinese New Year. It blooms in late winter, with a meaning of good fortune and a fresh start. And what makes it even more popular is that people believe if it blossoms precisely on New Year’s Day, then this little wonder will bring exceptional luck, wealth, and opportunities for the year ahead.
5. Peonies – Wealth & Celebration
- Symbol: Wealth, honor, prosperity
Peonies are one of the most important and cherished flowers in Chinese culture and people have long been calling them “king of flowers.” And for thousands of years, this type of flower is always strongly associated with wealth, high status, and festive joy. For those who expect an auspicious touch, peonies are the must-have decorations. Red peonies in particular are believed to attract prosperity and happy celebrations throughout the year.
6. Lucky Bamboo – Prosperity & Growth
- Symbol: Strength, resilience, luck
Lucky bamboo isn’t a true bamboo, however, it is universally used as a symbol of strength and good fortune during Chinese New Year. The number of stalks carries different meanings (e.g., five stalks for wealth). Its upright growth reflects a sense of resilience and steady progress, and people often place it at home with red decorations, which is a way to enhance luck and prosperity.
7. Pussy Willows/Silver Willow – Rising Luck
- Symbol: Growth, abundance, fresh beginnings
Pussy willows are traditional festive branches, with their soft, silvery buds, which are often used to resemble coins, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Their early buds indicate the arrival of new growth and renewed energy. So that you can commonly see families have them at home during Chinese New Year to welcome rising luck and the promise of flourishing fortune.
8. Red Anthuriums – Hospitality & Big Blessings
- Symbol: Happiness, warmth, auspicious vibes
Red anthuriums are most cherished for their vibrant color and heart-shaped blooms. And that’s why they can become symbols of hospitality and joyous blessings. Their bright red hue aligns with traditional new year colors, making them ideal festive flowers to welcome guests and spread positive energy throughout the time.
9. Marigolds – Longevity & Wealth
- Symbol: Longevity, good health, prosperity
In many East and Southeast Asian cultures, marigolds are associated with meanings like longevity and good fortune. Their golden hues are typically linked to wealth and success. During Chinese New Year, marigolds are displayed to express wishes for a long, healthy life and enduring prosperity for the household.
Most Popular Chinese New Year Lucky Fruits and Their Meanings
1. Oranges & Tangerines – Wealth & Success
- Symbol: Prosperity, good fortune, abundance
Oranges and tangerines are probably the most iconic Chinese New Year fruits. No matter if it’s in film or pictures, oranges seem to become an indispensable element to depict the festive vibe. Their bright golden color and round shape are considered closely related to wealth, completeness, and prosperity. And in Chinese (both Mandarin and Cantonese), the fruits name (橙 chéng) sounds similar to terms meaning success, luck, and good fortune (成 chéng). And this similarity has made the fruits even more preferred in households.
2. Kumquats – Golden Luck
- Symbol: Wealth, good fortune, luck
Kumquats are cherished for their bright orange hue (a quite auspicious color as explained above) and their compact size. They are also powerful symbols of good luck and wealth because their color and typical shape can evoke images of treasure and prosperity. The word “kumquat” is also associated with abundance and financial fortune. Unlike other fruits, many families would place potted kumquat trees in their homes to welcome continuous positive energy.
3. Pomelo – Family Unity & Prosperity
- Symbol: Harmony, abundance, protection
Pomelos are large citrus fruits that are often used to symbolize family unity and protection. Their round shape and generous size can easily remind people of the idea of completeness and togetherness, and this makes them meaningful additions to festive fruit trays. In Chinese, the word for pomelo (柚 yòu) sounds similar to words meaning “blessing” (佑yòu) or “to have” (有 yǒu) reinforcing hopes for prosperity.
4. Apples – Peace & Harmony
- Symbol: Peace, harmony, safety
Apples are auspicious fruits in many festivals, including Chinese New Year mainly because the pronunciation of their name: 苹果 (apple) píngguǒ sounds like 平安 (peace) píng’ān, meaning “peace and safety.” This phonetic connection gives apples some other meanings: tranquility, harmony, and protection. Red apples in particular are displayed in homes or given as gifts during the Chinese New Year to wish for loved ones to have a peaceful and harmonious year ahead.
5. Pineapple – Prosperity Arrives
- Symbol: Fortune, success, wealth
To many people’s surprise, pineapples have also gained emblematic meanings such as wealth and incoming good fortune to contribute to a better Chinese New Year. In some dialects like Hokkien, pineapple (菠萝bō luó) sounds like phrases meaning “good fortune arrives.” This linguistic connection together with their golden color, makes pineapples powerful symbols of prosperity and abundance.
6. Dragon Fruit – Prosperity, Energy & Bright Future
- Symbol: Vitality, strength, luck
Dragon fruit, known for its vibrant color and unique appearance, is increasingly popular as a fruit served at modern Chinese New Year. People now give them new meanings like prosperity and a bright future. While not as traditional as, for example, citrus, dragon fruit has now become one of the most suitable and boldest choice to draw positive energy and enthusiasm as families welcome a prosperous year.
7. Grapes – Wealth in Clusters
- Symbol: Abundance, continuity, prosperity
Grapes are always auspicious in Chinese culture because their clustered appearance can symbolize abundance and continuous good fortune. While each bunch suggests wealth multiplying and opportunities growing, the round shape of the small grapes themselves also ties to meanings like wholeness and unity.
8. Lychee – Good Relationships & Sweet Blessings
- Symbol: Romance, joy, harmony
Lychee is prized for its bright color and sweet taste, they together suggest joyous relationships and emotional warmth. Having lychee in the festival fruit trays symbolizes heartfelt blessings, and it can support good social connections, adding joy to family celebrations and guest offerings.
9. Longan – “Dragon Eye” Luck & Prosperity
- Symbol: Insight, wisdom, wealth
Longan, which in translation means “dragon eye,” is a unique Chinese New Year fruit used to symbolize good fortune, insight, and prosperity. Its name evokes people’s thoughts about mythical dragon, making longans especially auspicious during the Lunar New Year. Whether eaten fresh or included in fruit platters, longans are believed to bring wisdom and forward-looking fortune for the year ahead.
10. Persimmon – Good Things & Success
- Symbol: Smooth progress, all-round success
Persimmons are closely associated with the phrase 事事如意, meaning “may everything go as you wish,” because of the pronunciation of fruit’s name. This phonetic symbolism makes persimmons powerful symbols of wishing success, luck, and positive outcomes. Their bright color and pleasing shape also align with festive aesthetics, so you can see them everywhere during the festival.
Other Popular Chinese New Year Decorations to Bring Luck
- Red Lanterns:Bright red lanterns are one of the most typical decorations of Chinese New Year. They are usually hung in homes and streets to ward off evil spirits and invite good fortune.
- Spring Couplets: Red couplets with auspicious phrases areoften pasted on doorframes to express wishes for happiness and positive energy in the new year.
- “Fu” Character Decorations:The Chinese character 福 (Fu) means good luck and blessings. It can be seen everywhere when the festival comes and it is often displayed upside-down to symbolically show that fortune has “arrived” (related to the pronunciation again).
- Chinese Knots: Decorative red knotswhich represent eternal good luck, longevity, and prosperity. And most importantly, it carries Chinese people’s cultural identity
- Paper Cuttings:Intricate red paper designs, often placed on windows to bring happiness and protect against negative energy.
- Door Gods:Illustrated figures of guardian deities. You can often see them on doors, and they are believed to be capable of protecting the household from misfortune and inviting peaceful blessings during the New Year.
- Other Ornaments:Additional festive items like dragon or lion motifs, lucky banners, and prosperity trees enrich homes with symbolic good luck and festive spirit.
Related reading: Chinese New Year Greetings and Wishes
How to Place CNY Flowers and Fruits for Feng Shui?
To invite positive energy and feng shui, place fresh flowers and fruit bowls in high-traffic areas like the living room or dining room. And in these places, their power of inviting vitality, harmony, and prosperity can be the strongest. Bowls of auspicious fruits (e.g., oranges) are best displayed on elevated surfaces or near entrances to welcome good luck into the home. Keep arrangements neat, check their conditions every day to avoid wilted blooms or overripe fruits (which can block positive chi), and steer clear of bathrooms or cluttered corners.
Related Readings about Chinese New Year:
15 Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year Clothing Guide: What to Wear, Colors & Traditions
Have a CNY Trip to China with China Xian Tour
For anyone who wants to go deeper into China’s profound culture, embarking on a China tour during Chinese New Year is definitely a good choice. This festival has been living for thousands of years while never loses its vibrancy and energetic essence. To better experience this festival’s charm, we’d like to invite you to travel with China Xian Tour. We’ll take you to travel through China’s vast land and discover how people continuously shape the festival’s appearance and how it influence people’s life. We can offer you private guide services and customized itineraries, so that your journey is guaranteed be relaxing and smooth. While we’ll also take care of everything for you along the way, all you’ll need to do is enjoy yourself and make unforgettable memories of this flourishing land.
