Chinese New Year Traditions

Chinese New Year Traditions

Chinese New Year Flower Meaning gold flowers kung hee fat choy lunar new year red flowers

Chinese New Year is a centuries-old holiday, dating back to when some of the first agrarian societies  celebrated the cycle of seasons, which is why it is also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year.  This year, January 28th will mark the beginning of the Year of the Rooster.

There are several legends about the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and they all include a beast called the Nian (which translates to "year").

The Nian

The Nian lived in the mountains, and towards the end of winter, (when it was particularly hungry) it would come into the villages to devour livestock, crops, and children. The villagers were helpless to stop the Nian until they discovered that the monster feared loud noises, fire, and the color red.

So the next winter, they lit firecrackers and decorated their homes with red lanterns, flowers, and scrolls.  The Nian never came to their village again, and the anniversary of "the passing of the Nian" is celebrated, without fail, every lunar new year.  

Colors of Chinese New Year

 The colors of Chinese New Year are solidly red and gold.  Red, as found in the legend above, is

believed to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune, and it also functions as an emblem of joy, virtue, and sincerity. Gold symbolizes fortune and prosperity.

As a child, my Popo (grandmother) would always pay us a visit during Chinese New Year, and she would bring lilies for my mother, and for me, a red envelope (known as lai see) with a few dollars inside. Now, as an adult, we have continued the tradition in our own way: my mother sends me lai see, and I send her flowers.  
 
Flowers of Chinese New Year

Flower and fruits hold a special significance during Chinese New Year.  Flowers symbolize rebirth and the upcoming spring, and fruit blossoms (such as plum and peach) symbolize the beginning of the growing cycle which will bring fruit later on in the year. Mandarin oranges indicate fortune and bamboo means luck.   Showcasing both flowers and fruit in the home during Chinese New Year is believed to bring good fortune to the household for the coming year.

L-R: Bamboo, Mandarins, Peach Blossom, Red Button Chrysanthemum

Some of the traditional flower choices for Chinese New Year include red chrysanthemums which signify longevity, lilies to help one forget his or her troubles, and golden sunflowers for good fortune in the new year. Traditional or otherwise, there is a plethora of red and gold flowers to choose from when celebrating Chinese New Year.  And, if you want to highlight any Year of the Rooster birthdays throughout the year, think of the unique celosia (photo below, top right).  Its interesting texture and form makes a great "Rooster" flower.

Clockwise from top left: Mums, LA Hybrids, Celosia, Daffodil, Tulips, Sunflower

Regardless whether or not you celebrate Chinese New Year, I think we can all enjoy "the passing of the Nian." May your year be filled with flowers and good fortune.

Kung Hee Fat Choy!
 

Holiday Color Series: Essential Red

Holiday Color Series: Essential Red

Christmas flowers Holiday flowers ilex verticillata LA Hybrid red red flowers red holiday flowers red matsumoto asters red tulips Sumatra lilies

Welcome to Part Two of our Holiday Color Series. Now that we are fully in December, it is time to talk about the official color of Christmas: Red.  Not only is it adorning the windows of shops and the sweaters of my coworkers, I can also see it appearing more and more in our greenhouses, fields, and shipping coolers. 

Origin of Christmas Red

The use of red at Christmas has its history rooted in both pagan and Christian beliefs, tracing back to the Middle Ages, when using red and green symbolized the end of cycle and the beginning of a new one—typically around the winter solstice.  Christians associated red with this tradition as well, but they used it to indicate the sacred color of Christ's blood.  They celebrated the change of season with medieval miracle plays about the story of creation and Adam and Eve, featuring a "paradise tree" hung with red apples.  The holly berry, too, became associated with Christ's blood, along with the red robes of church bishops.  All these uses preceded the red of Santa's suit (which was actually made popular by artist Fred Mizen and Coca-Cola in the 1930s).

Regardless of the origin of using red with Christmas, it is here to stay.  All the better, I say, as there is a wealth of holiday flora that come in that nostalgic and symbolic, Christmas Red.

Red Matsumoto Asters

Matsumoto asters cheer up grey, winter skies with their warm and vibrant colors. They are especially fitting for the holiday season, as they come in that bright, enviable Christmas red.  Their soft petals gather tightly around a golden center, illustrating the Latin root of their name, which means “star."  Their lengthy stems and long vase life make Matsumoto Asters an essential addition to any Christmas decor.

Red Ilex

Ilex Verticallata (also known as winterberry) is the quintessential winter botanical.  We are unabashed ilex devotees here at Sun Valley, and as explained in Flower Talk before, it's because our ilex program has been hand-picked, bred, and cultivated by Lane DeVries for decades, and his long-term dedication to grow the best ilex is evident in what we offer today.   Have a look at these lovely greenery enhanced bunches below.

(Top L-R) Ilex Enhanced Bunches with: Cedar, Tulips and Cedar, Ilex M, Princess Pine

Also, the singular beauty of ilex displayed by itself is an arrangement that should not be overlooked.  The effect is both stunning and graceful.  Below are some gorgeous holiday ilex displays found on Pinterest, and there are hundreds of more ideas!

Red Tulips

We are also unabashed tulip lovers at Sun Valley! Tulips were one of our original bulb crops, and for the last thirty years, we have been working to provide high-quality, soil-grown tulips all year long.  During winter, we use bulbs from our Southern Hemisphere suppliers in order to have a fresh and timely supply of tulips during the "off-season." Red tulips pair amazing with all kinds of holiday greenery--cedar, pine, or fir, it doesn't matter--they all provide a great backdrop (and holiday scent) to bright red tulips. 

(From L-R): Rococco Red Tulips with Eucalytpus and Fir, Red tulip enhanced bunches with holiday greens

Red Lilies

Sumatra

Looking for a deeper red this holiday season? Consider Sumatra lilies, which have Bordeaux petals intensified by dark burgundy brushstrokes, ruby freckling, and a thin white ruffle at the edges of its petals.  Because they are part of the Oriental Lily family, Sumatra blooms are quite large and very fragrant.  If you're looking for an elegant and fragrant red flower for this holidays, try the dark hues of the Sumatra Lily.

LA Hybrids

LA Hybrids are perfect for those who want a long-lasting, red holiday lily with no fragrance. LA Hybrids fulfill that scentless need, making them a great option for those who have floral allergies or for those who want the notes of gingerbread and apple cider to reign supreme.  We've branded our LA Hybrids as Love and Royal Lilies, and they come in a range of red hues to fit any kind of holiday theme.   Their petals are velvety and strong, and their long vase life will help them last through the holiday season.

Some of our red-hued LA Hybrids

In case you need a re-cap of our list of Essential Red Flowers, I've rewritten a one a holiday classic to help you remember, called The Five Days of Flowers.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - an ilex verticillata..
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me -two LA Hybrids, and an ilex verticillata.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me - three red tulips, two LA Hybrids, and an ilex verticillata.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - Four Sumatra Lilies, three red tulips, two LA Hybrids and an ilex verticillata.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - Five Red Asters, Four Sumatra Lilies, three red tulips, two LA Hybrids, and an ilex verticillata.

Happy Holidays.

A Bouquet of Stars

A Bouquet of Stars

Asters Holiday flowers Matsumoto Asters red flowers

For my part I know nothing with any certainty,
But the sight of the stars makes me dream.
                                                                         -Vincent Van Gogh

Holiday time is upon us—I’ve set up camp in Sun Valley’s shipping warehouse; a thermos of coffee in one hand and a gingerbread cookie in the other.  I’ve been able to witness the change of seasons simply through watching the colors of our fresh bouquets change from autumn’s darling oranges and yellows, to the rich December hues of red, green, and gold.

The smell of evergreen is in the air and amidst the cold, a particularly bright and happy flower has caught my eye—the Red Aster Matsumoto.

Matsumotos have long-lasting flower heads whose soft petals grow in single, double, or semi-double layers.

This vibrant flower, also known as the Japanese Aster (Callistephus) has lengthy, sturdy stems paired with layers of long-lasting, soft flowers.  And I mean soft.  Rub-your-face-in-them-soft.   I’ve taken a bouquet to brighten up my winter hovel, and its presence has inspired me to step outside and explore this cheerful flower’s origin.

This flowering plant has an incredible height range, anywhere from 10 inches to 4 feet.

The history of this long-stemmed annual is noteworthy—it is native to the eastern regions of Asia, and the name Aster hails from the Latin word for “star,” while its scientific name, Callistephus, comes from the Greek word for “beautiful crown.”  You can see why agronomists of old named it as they did—the flower’s snugly packed, thickly fringed petals that surrounds its rich, yellow center strongly resembles a star as well as a crown.  It’s enough to make me want to fashion a star-flower tiara for myself and parade around the farm, Queen of the Asters.

Matsumoto asters in various stages of bloom.

We grow these beauties in our sunny farms of Oxnard, where the naturally cool, coastal climate keeps the flowers happy and on-schedule, even during the colder months of winter.   Normally, asters are a strict late summer/early fall variety, but with our carefully organized hoop house program, our blooms are able to flourish year-round.

Unlike our bulb flowers (tulips, irises, and lilies), asters are grown from rooted seed, which requires no pre-cooling before planting.   Even without that additional cooling cycle, the entire growing process from seedling to flower takes approximately 10-15 weeks to complete. For more on how we grow Asters, see our interview with Sun Valley’s Aster Master, Gerritt.

Asters showing some color in the hoop houses of Oxnard

Asters show full color when they’re ready to be picked, providing us with some great eye candy.  Walking through the hoop houses in Oxnard, it is easy to feel lost among the sea of long-stemmed red, hot pink, pink, purple, lavender, and bi-colored blooms.

My favorite for this holiday season are the scarlet red asters—their brightly layered petals and gold centers are a cheery addition to any environment.

Freshly picked!

Asters bring liveliness and vibrancy to any flower arrangement, but they also shine brightly on their own.  Arrangement ideas include adding them to large holiday bouquets, or placing them in a tall vase on their own as a simple and happy floral piece.

So go on, check out our bouquets full of stars to brighten your day and add a touch of fun and whimsy to your holiday season.