Orchids The Chinese culture is rich with flower symbolism that permeates both cultural practices and artistic expression. People will return to their own families no matter how far they are or how busy they are. Hi! I think parents are pretty traditional, so I don’t want my son to show up with the wrong flowers! … China is the land of thousands of years of wisdom. On the day of the funeral, all the guests are expected to give money in white envelopes (white is the color of mourning in Chinese culture) to the family members of the deceased. i was confused because i had heard white was bad and yellow was good but it actually a lot more complicated. Hi Kay, as long as you avoid chrysanthemums, which are for funerals, color is probably your next most important variable. – White flowers and yellow chrysanthemums are only used at funerals. I wanna give her flowers with no occasion but I would like to express by that move that I love her. This can be directly handed over to one of the family members (or put into a donation box, if there is one), either on the day of the funeral or one day before. With a history of thousands of years, China's Etiquette has formed and been passed down generation by generation. Chinese culture has always placed great importance in flowers, which feature heavily in their proverbs, poetry, art and literature. What to Choose: China possesses an ancient culture steeped in Confucianism— based largely on respect, relationships, and rituals—the purpose of which is maintaining harmony within one’s family, network of friends, colleagues, and society at large. Take the potted plant. Top 10 Flowers In Chinese Culture 1. Open the white envelope that the family may have distributed. I want to give them a gift because of that. These groups typically send large flower stands with flowing ribbons. According to most traditions, Chinese culture recognizes them as funeral flowers. On the Chinese 50 cents coins you can see plum flowers on the side. China is a culture of flowers. Thank you. Various varieties and colors can convey drastically different messages, which creates a lot of pressure when you’re afraid of breaching strict cultural protocols. Qin Xie Thursday 15 Feb 2018 2:00 pm. Giving somebody a sharp object insinuates that you want to cut off your relationship with them. And a picture of the two of them at a game. In Chinese cultures, the family wears white at the funeral and does not wear any jewelry or red clothing, as red is the color of happiness. Do not expect the gift to be opened when received. Before buying a present for a Chinese person, you should consider a few things. Traditional superstitions regard this as counting the seconds to the recipient’s death. the other thing i have noticed is the students seem to want to pick out the exact flowers and colors themselves wanting to come in the fridge to pick it out . So it is down to roses (which do have thorns) or lilies. Pleas sign me up for your wonderful website so I can get all your amazing updates! According to the Cultural China website, the acceptable amount for an acquaintance to give is $60. The flower is also a … Global etiquette on flower giving. Giving a clock or watch as a gift is the biggest no-no in Chinese culture. ~Wes. One reason for this is “1” means “single” and it is shaped like a long single stick, so that day is entitled “Singles Day”. My friend lost her mother a couple of months ago & I’d like to send her something as a respectful acknowledgment of her loss & to let her know I am thinking of her. Especially appropriate around this season for Lunar New Year. An article about Chinese gift giving wouldn’t be complete without mentioning green hats. I had no idea yellow mums were bad . Hi Dawn, it’s a thoughtful idea. The symbolism of flowers is quite ancient, and many historians have traced flower symbolism through art, poetry, and music. Giving white roses to an online Chinese lady I will be meeting soon, would that be considered romantic or is that a no-no? I know she does not have time to take care of a live plant. Most ancient paintings depict flowers of … Plum Flowers Anniversary roses, Easter lilies, spring daffodils. Hi Corey, if peonies are unavailable, then lilies would be the elegant choice. Always give gifts to the most senior person first. From a painted Chinese bottle. The History of Giving Flowers A single flower or a huge bouquet may express love, remembrance, apology, support or simply be a thoughtful gesture. Finally, in Chinese culture, the Chrysanthemum flower is a symbol of the dead and is often referred to as one of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese culture, frequently used as a symbol in artworks. 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