Lunar New Year Fair
Encyclopedia
Lunar New Year Fair is a type of fair held annually a few days before Lunar New Year
in markets, China
.
, the fair is held in various location in Hong Kong, notably Victoria Park
and Fa Hui Park
. Fair gathers hundreds of stalls for various goods. Half of the area is for selling auspicious flowering plants like narcissus, peony
, chrysanthemum
, peach
and fruit plants like mandarin
. Another half is for selling dry stuff for Chinese New Year
.
The fair draws lots of people to visit. It is part of custom, hang nin siu (行年宵, literally: walk the year night) or hang fa shi (行花市, literally: walk the flower market). The crowd peaks at a few hours before and after midnight of the New Year's Day. The stall tenders would try to sell all their stocks in these few hours before the fair closes. Flower stall tenders would not take the flowers back when the fair closes but destroy it or leave it to charity organisations.
In 2000s increasingly youths from various youth organisations, secondary schools and universities operate stalls their own.
In 2007, students from various schools set up stalls to sell many special products which are related to pig, for example Pig Tissue Holder, Fatty Pork Chop Scarf, etc.
In tradition, the Governor of Hong Kong
visited the fair annually, usually in Victoria Park. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong
continues this tradition.
At the time of 2007, it was held in:
(Canton), there is at least one fair in each district, which became an accustom since 1960s. However, the origin of such fair can be traced back to Ming Dynasty
. However, the official records of the Lunar New Year Fairs in Canton was found first in 1920s, during the city was under the rule of the Republic of China
.
And the official name for the fair in Canton is flowermarket (花市), however the locals tend to use the term Flower Street (花街), referring to the fact the fairs in Canton are taking part on the street available for vehicles on normal days, which turned to pedestrian zone only during the days of the fair.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
in markets, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Hong Kong
In Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the fair is held in various location in Hong Kong, notably Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
and Fa Hui Park
Fa Hui Park
Fa Hui Park is a small park located on Boundary Street, Sham Shui Po District, Kowloon in Hong Kong. It occupies 19 hectares. It is one of the sites where Lunar New Year Fair is held every year.There is a 1,100m2 community garden in the park...
. Fair gathers hundreds of stalls for various goods. Half of the area is for selling auspicious flowering plants like narcissus, peony
Peony
Peony or paeony is a name for plants in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America...
, chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
, peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
and fruit plants like mandarin
Mandarin orange
The orange, also known as the ' or mandarine , is a small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads...
. Another half is for selling dry stuff for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
.
The fair draws lots of people to visit. It is part of custom, hang nin siu (行年宵, literally: walk the year night) or hang fa shi (行花市, literally: walk the flower market). The crowd peaks at a few hours before and after midnight of the New Year's Day. The stall tenders would try to sell all their stocks in these few hours before the fair closes. Flower stall tenders would not take the flowers back when the fair closes but destroy it or leave it to charity organisations.
In 2000s increasingly youths from various youth organisations, secondary schools and universities operate stalls their own.
In 2007, students from various schools set up stalls to sell many special products which are related to pig, for example Pig Tissue Holder, Fatty Pork Chop Scarf, etc.
In tradition, the Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
visited the fair annually, usually in Victoria Park. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
continues this tradition.
Location
At the time of 2006, it was held in:- Victoria ParkVictoria Park, Hong KongVictoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
, Causeway Bay - Fa Hui ParkFa Hui ParkFa Hui Park is a small park located on Boundary Street, Sham Shui Po District, Kowloon in Hong Kong. It occupies 19 hectares. It is one of the sites where Lunar New Year Fair is held every year.There is a 1,100m2 community garden in the park...
, Sham Shui Po - Cheung Sha Wan Playground, Sham Shui Po
- Kai Tak East Playground, Wong Tai Sin
- Kwun Tong Recreation Ground, Kwun Tong
- Sha Tsui Road Playground, Tsuen Wan
- Kwai Chung Sports Ground, Kwai Tsing
- Shek Pai Tau Playground, Tuen Mun
- Pedestrian Mall Opposite Yuen Long Public Swimming Pool and On Hing Playground, Yuen Long
- Shek Wu Hui Playground, North District
- Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square, Tai Po
- Yuen Wo Playground, Sha Tin
- Man Yee Playground, Sai Kung
- Po Hong Park, Tseung Kwan O
At the time of 2007, it was held in:
- Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island
- Fa Hui Park, Cheung Sha Wan Playground, Morse ParkMorse ParkMorse Park , occupies 15.8 hectares, is an urban park located in Wong Tai Sin in Kowloon.It was competed in 1967. The Park was named after Sir Arthur Morse , the head of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation during and after World War II.-History:The Hong Kong Golden Jubilee Jamborette ,...
and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kowloon - Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan
- Kwai Chung Sports Ground
- the open space at the Tin Hau Temple in Tuen Mun
- Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground in Yuen Long
- Shek Wu Hui Playground in North District
- Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square in Tai Po
- Yuen Wo Playground in Sha Tin
- Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung
- Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O
Guangzhou
In GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
(Canton), there is at least one fair in each district, which became an accustom since 1960s. However, the origin of such fair can be traced back to Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. However, the official records of the Lunar New Year Fairs in Canton was found first in 1920s, during the city was under the rule of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
And the official name for the fair in Canton is flowermarket (花市), however the locals tend to use the term Flower Street (花街), referring to the fact the fairs in Canton are taking part on the street available for vehicles on normal days, which turned to pedestrian zone only during the days of the fair.