Plants and Fruits

As individual plants, the rugged pine is a symbol of
nobility and venerability. As a longevity symbol, the
pine is often shown with the crane. The bamboo
with its straight exterior and hollow culm symbolizes
humility and fidelity. It has integrity for it bends
in the storm but does not break. The plant is closely
associated with the everyday life of the Chinese
because so many household objects are made of
bamboo. Su Dongpo, the famous poet of the Song
dynasty, remarked that he would rather go without
meat than to live without the bamboo. Foremost
among the flowers, the plum is emblematic of perseverance
and purity. The five petals of its flower
make it an auspicious
plant
because five is
a sacred number
in China. In
this instance the
five petals represent
the Five
Blessings: old
age, wealth,
health, love of
virtue, and a
natural death.

The Chinese
believe it is important
to have at least one
pomelo in the house
for decoration, or better
still, to have a pair,
since good things
always come in pairs. In Cantonese, you is similar
in sound to the phrase “to have.” To use a pomelo
to decorate one’s home during the new year implies
a wish that the home will have everything it needs
the coming year.