Orchids for Chinese New Year
It’s the Year of the Ram, and Chinese New Year is a great time for orchids. For millennia, orchids, especially Cymbidiums, have been treasured in East Asia for their rich fragrances and graceful foliage. Nowadays, they are popular gifts and decorations for Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival. Confucius cemented orchids into Chinese culture over 2500 years ago by praising their nobility and sweet fragrance. The first three photos below show modern examples of these celebrated Chinese orchids. These traditional varieties are smaller, and more expensive, than most modern Cymbidium hybrids.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and in Asian communities throughout the world. Cymbidiums are always popular for the holiday, but so are Moth Orchids, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, and others. The orchid hybrids pictured below are all great choices to wish happiness and prosperity in the new year. Read about other lucky flowers and fruits for Chinese New Year here. Happy Lunar New Year! Gung hay fat choy!
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March 10th, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Very nice article, just what I needed.
Nice photos too.