25 February 2015

chinese new year

carnations

Happy Chinese New Year! Even though it's a few days late, but better late than never eh? I know technically it's called the Lunar New Year and not Chinese New Year - but it's what I grew up with and celebrate since different cultures have different traditions, even though we're celebrating the same occasion.

chinese new year flowers

chinese new year flowers

Fresh flowers are a must, according to my mom anyway. If the weather outside wasn't inhospitable, she'd probably cut her own freshly grown flowers from the front yard!

chinese new year decorations

chinese new year candy box

Red and gold decorations also go up, though some of these are displayed year-round.

chinese new year orchid

Mom has this orchid (I think it's an orchid) that always blooms around this time of year. I never noticed that before until one of my relatives pointed it out: "Big sister's plant is always the prettiest around the new year." She technically isn't my mom's sister, but rather my mom's brother's wife, and honestly one of the sweetest people I know.

chinese tea set

It's also the time of year where mom busts out all her fancy teacups and dinnerware.

red envelopes

And probably the most exciting thing for the unmarried kids: money given out in red envelopes! My relatives keep on telling me to get married but I'm only 22, which is too young for me personally. They also keep on nudging me to bring James here so they can meet him :P

(Sorry mom, I stood on the table to get most of these shots while you were out shopping.)

18 comments:

  1. Happy New Years Becky!! All those flowers are gorgeous!! I got to celebrate last weekend too because everyone I work with is vietnamese! It was a fun experience and I some how got lucky money too haha!

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  2. Happy Chinese New Year to you :) your photos are gorgeous, beautiful flowers!

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  3. GONG XI FA CAI, XIN NIAN KUAI LE! Wooo. Yay for red packets ;)

    Sheri | Behind The Frames

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  4. So pretty! I love all of the flowers!
    Melanie @ meandmr.com

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  5. Happy Chinese New Year! And yes to the red pockets ;) I've been loving those ever since I was a little girl, but now I can finally use that money, haha!


    Emily | ahemitsemme.blogspot.com

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  6. hey, if I was getting money because I wasn't married, I'd be putting off marriage for a while ;)
    Gorgeous photos! The flowers are stunning and I can see why your mom says that they are an essential!

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  7. Stunning photos! I really like how you took this (even if this means standing up on a table, because hey you gotta do what you gotta do!) And thats such an interesting tradition, that you get money when you're not married yet!

    Happy Chinese New Year

    xx naomi // Naomi in Wonderland

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  8. OMG what amazing pictures and Happy Chinese New year to you Becky!! Ive seen so many beautiful decorations around here too in honour of the same - such a happy occasion:) I love your gradient nailpolish in that las tpic btw ;)

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  9. You naughty Becky standing on a table! I'm telling mum hahah :P
    Happy belated Lunar/Chinese New Year girlie!
    Don't get married to fast, enjoy your young worryfree life ^_^
    Xx http://icepandora.blogspot.com

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  10. Thank you! I wish I worked with a more culturally diverse group of people - it's so fun to learn about other traditions!

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  11. Thank you - happy (very!) belated Chinese new year to you too!

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  12. Thank you :) There's a lot of things I do that would earn a dirty stare and some yelling from my mom if she ever found out!

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  13. I remember when I'd give them to my mom so she could put them into my bank account, haha!

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  14. Haha sameeee. My mom is so good with flowers that she threw the carnations out because they were finally wilting after 3-4ish weeks of having them. What kind of sorcery is that.

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  15. I think it's money for good luck, though I can't be certain because I don't know much about the traditions even though we celebrate every year!

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  16. Happy is such a great word to describe it since there's so much food and family around! Thank you - I felt very Ke$ha with all the blue sparkle and glitter :P

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  17. Hahaha, I have to achieve good pictures one way or another!


    Happy super belated Lunar/Chinese new year to you too! Still enjoying my youth hehe :)

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  18. I really like the fish decoration! :]

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