New York Lunar New Year Flower Market

The New York Chinatown Lunar New Year Flower Market Kicks Off Celebrations with Arts and Performances

Jan. 29, 2006 is the first day of the Lunar New Year for 4704 - the Year of the Dog. Dogs are attributed as being loyal, honest and humorous people. Those born in the years 1958, 1970, 1982, and 1994 fall under the sign. From Jan. 27th-28th, check out New York Chinatown's third annual, tri-state Lunar New Year Flower Market presented by the Museum of Chinese in the Americas (MoCA), United East Athletics Association (UEAA), in collaboration with Asian American Arts Alliance.

New Year celebrations last for fifteen days afterwards, but preparations including cleaning and decorating the home begin as early as two weeks prior. The market is a significant kick-off event in many Asian countries. The flower is one of the most important and symbolic decorations: "fa" in Cantonese shares homonymic qualities to the word for fortune, "fat." Therefore, to have flowers blooming in one's home during the New Year is a prosperous and fortuitous sign. Among the propitious plants and flowers are azaleas, dahlias, chrysanthemums, peach and plum blossoms, peonies, narcissi and small orange trees.

The Flower Market adds a creative twist to an old tradition this year by including artists and performers to engage and entertain visitors throughout the two day event. A welcoming ceremony with a lion dance performance by the UEAA lion dance troupe will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28th at 12 pm. Florists and vendors interested in participating in this year's event should contact Jonathan Choy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (212)615-4507.

Where: Columbus Park, Mulberry Street between Bayard and Worth Streets
When: Fri., Jan. 27, 2006: 12pm - 10 pm; Sat., Jan. 28, 2006: 10 am - 6 pm
Welcoming Ceremony: Sat., Jan. 28, 2006: 12 pm

For more information on Lunar New Year events sponsored by MoCA, visit www.moca-nyc.org.