Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — In downtown’s Chinatown neighborhood, celebrations for the 2024 Lunar New Year have begun with the Lunar New Year Flower Market opening on Friday.
The pop-up store sells flowers, plants, dried goods, food, and red and gold decorations with dragons, which celebrates 2024 as the year of the dragon.
“Decorations are our one item that’s very big in the Chinese culture. During this big holiday, we are celebrating by putting up Chinese decorations and proverbs, wishing in the new year good luck for families and friends,” said Debbie Ho, the executive director of Chinatown Main Street.
The Lunar New Year Flower Market is sponsored by Chinatown Main Street, a nonprofit started in 1995 whose mission is to make Boston a “thriving cultural and commercial center for all businesses and people” through initiatives like strengthening businesses in the area and beautifying the district.
Flowers and plants are another important aspect of celebrating the Lunar New Year, Ho added, saying that they represent “wealth, happiness, strength… and more money,” among other good omens heading into the new year.
At the market, there were also pre-made and dried foods available, with everything from “mushrooms, ginseng, and sea cucumbers, to cooked soups ready for the new year dinner,” described one person there.
Cleaning supplies were also on sale because many people deep clean their homes before the Lunar New Year. “If you want to bring good luck to your family, the tradition is two days before the new year— that’s the main day everybody will clean up,” said one woman at the flower market.
The Lunar New Year Flower Market is located at the China Trade Center on Boylston Street. It will be open until Feb. 9, a day before the 2024 Lunar New Year begins.
WBZ’s Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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