As the Chinese zodiac transitions from the mighty Dragon to its little "dragon" counterpart, the Snake, our Chinese language learners and friends gathered to celebrate the Spring Festival in a vibrant and meaningful way—by crafting beautiful flower arrangements.
The tradition of celebrating the New Year with floral displays is deeply rooted in the practice of 歲朝清供 (suìzhāo qīnggòng). 歲朝 refers to the first day of the lunar year, and 清供 signifies refined offerings. This custom dates back to the 6th century when people in central China combined seasonal spices and vegetables on a single plate, believing that consuming them with wine on New Year's Day would boost immunity and ward off seasonal illnesses. By the 11th and 12th centuries, these offerings had evolved into elaborate displays featuring seasonal vegetables and flowers arranged in vases, jars, pots, and baskets. The tradition even became a beloved subject in literati paintings.
Jin Tingbiao 金廷標, Suizhao Qinggongtu 歲朝清供圖, Qing Dynasty
MIianyi 绵亿, Painting of Presenting Auspicious Signs in Spring 繪畫宜春呈瑞, Qing Dynasty
Bringing a modern touch to this traditional practice, our learners created exquisite floral arrangements under the guidance of Jasmine Fan, the floral designer and owner of The Magic Fairy Garden, a Richmond Hill-based flower studio. At the heart of each arrangement was a red chrysanthemum with golden-tipped petals, symbolizing longevity. Surrounding it were craspedia, Ilex, and willow—representing growth, wealth, and vitality. The finishing touches included golden fans to usher in blessings and good fortune, along with handwritten lucky cards inscribed with warm New Year wishes using traditional brush techniques.
Sample new year flower arrangement designed and created by Jasmine Fan
Participants enthusiastically embraced the hands-on experience, trimming stems, arranging blooms, and experimenting with different shapes, colors, and aesthetics. The result was a collection of vibrant, fragrant arrangements that filled the room with festive cheer.
Jasmine explains the materials and structure of the flower arrangement
Jasmine demonstrates the cutting technique
This student’s flower arrangement takes its initial shape
Final touch with writing the lucky words
Voilà, it’s done!
Here comes the teamwork!
Before diving into the floral artistry, attendees were treated to a captivating Qin music performance by Atom Wang, Director of the Qin Society affiliated with the UTChinese Network. The celebration continued after the flower-making session, as guests savored traditional pastries, mingled, and shared in the joy of the occasion.
Atom performs the mesmerizing Flowing Stream, one of the most spread Qin melodies, which has been sent to the interstellar space.
Locally sourced traditional Chinese pastry, shaped in pineapples, flowers, lions, and dragons
This wonderful event was made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Department of East Asian Studies and the dedicated efforts of the Chinese Language Program team. Special thanks to our incredible office staff, work-study students, and volunteers—without their hard work, this event would not have been such a success!
Wishing everyone a prosperous and joyous Year of the Snake!