Lunar New Year 'Auspicious' Must-Haves Explained
Chinese culture is peppered with symbolism, from words that rhyme to shapes and even colours
Anita Yee
15 January 2020
Houzz Singapore Contributor.
Aside from the zodiac signs – the Year of the Rat begins on January 25, 2020, for example – symbolism runs high with many things related to Chinese (or Asian) culture. Hence, the beginning of the festive season is a perfect time to (re)learn a thing or two. Just touching the tip of the iceberg, below are some of the more common items – food and decorative – that are must-haves in homes during the Lunar New Year. And there are good reasons for them too!
Oranges and tangerines
You’ll find that Chinese words that rhyme with an item (usually edible) will feature prominently during this festive season.
The Chinese word for the mandarin orange is kam (in the Cantonese dialect), which sounds like ‘gold’. Its vibrant hue is a plus. Hence, you’ll usually find a bowl or more of this fruit placed on dining tables and sideboards.
Swap the orange for mandarins instead, for a truly Chinese New Year look. Perfectly set off by the festive paper cutting (read more about this below), this idea can carry through other dinners you host in the future. Just experiment with the colour combinations.
You’ll find that Chinese words that rhyme with an item (usually edible) will feature prominently during this festive season.
The Chinese word for the mandarin orange is kam (in the Cantonese dialect), which sounds like ‘gold’. Its vibrant hue is a plus. Hence, you’ll usually find a bowl or more of this fruit placed on dining tables and sideboards.
Swap the orange for mandarins instead, for a truly Chinese New Year look. Perfectly set off by the festive paper cutting (read more about this below), this idea can carry through other dinners you host in the future. Just experiment with the colour combinations.
Kumquat tree
Wealth and overall good fortune are strong themes during Chinese New Year.
These compact kumquat trees usually grace the entranceway of homes and are also usually gifted to business associates as a symbol of bestowing good fortune and blessings.
If an entire plant is not possible, follow the tip shared in this image: “Let nature be the centrepiece. Cut-branch arrangements can steal the show, so be strategic in placing them.”
Wealth and overall good fortune are strong themes during Chinese New Year.
These compact kumquat trees usually grace the entranceway of homes and are also usually gifted to business associates as a symbol of bestowing good fortune and blessings.
If an entire plant is not possible, follow the tip shared in this image: “Let nature be the centrepiece. Cut-branch arrangements can steal the show, so be strategic in placing them.”
Flowering plants
Blooming plants symbolise rebirth, says Adelina Pang, principal consultant and founder of Adelina Pang Fengshui Consultancy. She adds that flowers symbolise wealth. It is believed that a flowering plant on New Year’s day augurs a year of prosperity.
Tiny red ribbons are sometimes tied at intervals along the branches.
Blooming plants symbolise rebirth, says Adelina Pang, principal consultant and founder of Adelina Pang Fengshui Consultancy. She adds that flowers symbolise wealth. It is believed that a flowering plant on New Year’s day augurs a year of prosperity.
Tiny red ribbons are sometimes tied at intervals along the branches.
If a live plant is not possible, wallpaper is the next best thing! This all-over print works well in a powder room or a nook you have (and might want to designate as a reading corner or for paperwork). But if live flowers are what you’d like…
Check out these gorgeous wallpaper design ideas
Check out these gorgeous wallpaper design ideas
… perhaps a sprig of fresh orchid will do just as well.
Stretch the imagination a little and the vase could pass for an abstract rendition of a pineapple, another food that is rich with symbolism.
Basic Care for Healthy Orchids
Stretch the imagination a little and the vase could pass for an abstract rendition of a pineapple, another food that is rich with symbolism.
Basic Care for Healthy Orchids
Pineapples
This tropical fruit is associated with money-making endeavours. In the Hokkien dialect, it’s called ong lai, which sounds like incoming money or wealth.
Why a pineapple could bring good fortune and other home superstitions
This tropical fruit is associated with money-making endeavours. In the Hokkien dialect, it’s called ong lai, which sounds like incoming money or wealth.
Why a pineapple could bring good fortune and other home superstitions
Photo from Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
Hence, the gifting and consumption of pineapple tarts throughout (and beyond) this festive season is popular.
These yuanbao (first type of money used in China) or ingot-shaped tarts symbolise the attraction of wealth into a home or office. These days, imitation gold ingots are used as well.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with Homemade Pineapple Tarts
Hence, the gifting and consumption of pineapple tarts throughout (and beyond) this festive season is popular.
These yuanbao (first type of money used in China) or ingot-shaped tarts symbolise the attraction of wealth into a home or office. These days, imitation gold ingots are used as well.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with Homemade Pineapple Tarts
If you’re not quite into bringing home a few of these prickly-skinned fruit, a cluster of pineapple paper lanterns could work just as well!
Or a pineapple print collage on the wall … subtle yet you won’t miss out on the significance of displaying pineapples in the home!
The pineapple motif is ripe with decorative inspirations
The pineapple motif is ripe with decorative inspirations
Chinese couplets or dui lian
Similar to the picture, dui lian is a pair of Chinese calligraphy (poetry) written in black ink on red paper. Hung as a pair, these characters usually carry well wishes for prosperity, good health and more, says Pang.
Similar to the picture, dui lian is a pair of Chinese calligraphy (poetry) written in black ink on red paper. Hung as a pair, these characters usually carry well wishes for prosperity, good health and more, says Pang.
Photo by Keane Tan
Paper cuttings
A common one is that of the Chinese character fook, which means wealth, and they are usually hung upside down to symbolise money pouring into the home or office.
Paper cuttings
A common one is that of the Chinese character fook, which means wealth, and they are usually hung upside down to symbolise money pouring into the home or office.
If hanging up scrolls or paper cuttings isn’t your cup of tea, cushions wrapped in a similar print are good options.
Here are more ideas for mixing prints and patterns
Here are more ideas for mixing prints and patterns
Lanterns
Red is an auspicious colour in Chinese culture, and it’s a colour that makes its way into almost anything that needs celebrating (think: lanterns, cloth banners and red packets given out during this festive period). Hence, these red lanterns are hung as symbols of good luck and prosperity.
Folklore surrounding lanterns abound; take in the full meaning of this and more at the street light-up in Chinatown.
Red is an auspicious colour in Chinese culture, and it’s a colour that makes its way into almost anything that needs celebrating (think: lanterns, cloth banners and red packets given out during this festive period). Hence, these red lanterns are hung as symbols of good luck and prosperity.
Folklore surrounding lanterns abound; take in the full meaning of this and more at the street light-up in Chinatown.
Photo from Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
Food symbolism
From mandarin oranges and fish to dumplings and abalone, food during this festive season stretches from the sea to land and anything in between.
A common sight in most homes is the ‘Tray of Togetherness’, which is a round tray (a shape that symbolises completeness or togetherness) with eight (an auspicious number) compartments filled with dried fruits, sweets, biscuits and other snacks for visitors.
The nian gao (pictured), or ‘year cake’, which may be included in the tray, is a staple in most homes. In the Chinese language, nian gao, infers that one will prosper more each year.
Food symbolism
From mandarin oranges and fish to dumplings and abalone, food during this festive season stretches from the sea to land and anything in between.
A common sight in most homes is the ‘Tray of Togetherness’, which is a round tray (a shape that symbolises completeness or togetherness) with eight (an auspicious number) compartments filled with dried fruits, sweets, biscuits and other snacks for visitors.
The nian gao (pictured), or ‘year cake’, which may be included in the tray, is a staple in most homes. In the Chinese language, nian gao, infers that one will prosper more each year.
Photo from Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
For double the auspiciousness, nian gao is shaped into carp; the fish is symbolic of good fortune and luck.
For double the auspiciousness, nian gao is shaped into carp; the fish is symbolic of good fortune and luck.
Photo from Goodwood Park Hotel
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Feasting during the Chinese New Year is not complete without the lo hei (Cantonese dialect), which is loosely translated into ‘tossing up good fortune’. Also known as yusheng, this is an appetiser course and essentially, a raw fish salad consisting of slices of raw fish, julienned vegetables, crushed crackers, a variety of sauces and condiments; all mixed together while auspicious phrases are said as each ingredient is added to the plate. As you would’ve guessed, each phrase refers to the symbolism of the ingredients.
Note: The photo above is a dine-in only dish at Min Jiang. And the drawing of the rooster standing in a bamboo forest is executed by Master Chef Chan Hwan Kee who personally illustrates each plate.
TELL US
How do you decorate for Chinese New Year? Share pictures and tips in the Comments section below.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Feasting during the Chinese New Year is not complete without the lo hei (Cantonese dialect), which is loosely translated into ‘tossing up good fortune’. Also known as yusheng, this is an appetiser course and essentially, a raw fish salad consisting of slices of raw fish, julienned vegetables, crushed crackers, a variety of sauces and condiments; all mixed together while auspicious phrases are said as each ingredient is added to the plate. As you would’ve guessed, each phrase refers to the symbolism of the ingredients.
Note: The photo above is a dine-in only dish at Min Jiang. And the drawing of the rooster standing in a bamboo forest is executed by Master Chef Chan Hwan Kee who personally illustrates each plate.
TELL US
How do you decorate for Chinese New Year? Share pictures and tips in the Comments section below.
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This is a very good article. FYI: Even though I am ethnically Chinese, I like to use the term "Lunar New Year" because other ethnic groups that are not Chinese also observe this as their New Year. Also, the Chinese character 福 may also be translated into English as, "blessing," so that when Chinese Christians say, 神祝福你 ("God bless you"), the meaning is expanded beyond material wealth. Keep up the good work! =]
Thank you for all for your comments and encouragement!