#lunarnewyear#2019#flowerfair Huge crowds assemble for Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year Flower Market, which is one of the biggest events to commemorate the festival. Apart from the colourful and aromatic flowers that gave the “Flower Market” its name, there are many varieties of traditional food and Chinese New Year souvenirs.
“I come here with my family to enjoy the atmosphere,” said Cherrie Ng, 12, a primary school student. She makes it a point to visit the Victoria Park Flower Market in Causeway Bay every year since she was a child. She also believes that the flower market is a great place to buy souvenirs for celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival.
To usher in the year of the pig, many stalls offer pig-themed souvenirs, such as cushions, files, toys, balloons and home decorations, in order to allure the citizens to buy their items and prepare it for the upcoming year.
“In this year’s flower fair, I have bought some pig stickers. Many stickers and gifts are locally handmade, such as key chains and drawings, which are the major selling point.” Ng said.
While the crowd enjoys the atmosphere, businesses are also bustling thanks to the their enthusiasm.
“This year’s sale is great, many people are coming to buy my products,” shared Mandies Kwok Man-wa, a 22-year-old artist. She has been selling her own drawings and products for a few years to earn a living, and admits that she sometimes faces challenges while selling her works there.
All the hand made products and drawings are reasonably priced as they are all designed by ourselves. “Some people will bargain with us in order to buy our products at a lower price, but we usually stand firm at the beginning of the Flower Fair,” she elaborated.
Besides having good sales, Kwok hopes that her products can also being joy to others. She mentioned that her shop will offer discounts from to 20 to 30% near the end of Lunar New Year Eve to let the customers buy her drawings in a cheaper price.
“I think offering sales to the customers near the start of the upcoming year is a kind of blessing for the next year.” said Kwok.
The Flower Market also brings opportunity for people to buy “lucky” plants to promote better Fengshui. Many from the older generation enjoy doing so.
“I buy the narcissi every year, it stands for auspicious and infinite happiness,” said Christy Chan, 53, an odd job worker who was here with her husband.
Chan and her husband also enjoy decorating their homes with narcissi for the Lunar New Year. She also mentioned that the Lunar New Year Flower Market brings her family together.
“Having a reunion is not easy as we grow older, my children are busy with their families and their work. Lunar New Year gives us a chance to meet and chat, we can wander around in the flower market together,” explained Chan.
“In the year of pig, I wish my family can stay healthy and have a simple, happy life.”
Reported by Fifi Tsui Edited by Rachel Yeo Photos edited by Nadia Lam
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