Birthday
HydrangeasFor us, New Year means snow, a tree and tangerines, but in the southern hemisphere and the tropics it falls in the heat, and some countries celebrate their main New Year at a different time altogether. Here is how Brazil, Australia, Vietnam and Thailand see in the New Year — and the part flowers play in these traditions.
White and festive flowers: white roses and flower baskets.
Traditions at a glance
Brazil: white clothes and flowers for Iemanjá
In Rio de Janeiro, millions greet the New Year on Copacabana beach. People wear white, the colour of peace and renewal. Following Afro-Brazilian tradition, many bring white flowers for the sea goddess Iemanjá and set them on the waves, and jump over seven waves while making wishes.
Australia: New Year in summer
In Australia, 31 December is midsummer. People celebrate on beaches and in parks, and the highlight is the fireworks over Sydney Harbour, broadcast around the world. Summer flowers and picnics replace Christmas-tree decor.
Vietnam: Tết and blossoming branches
Vietnam’s biggest celebration is Tết, the Lunar New Year, which falls in late January or February. Homes are decorated with blossoming branches — peach in the north and the yellow-flowered “mai” shrub, often called yellow apricot blossom, in the south — plus kumquat trees laden with fruit as a symbol of prosperity.
Thailand: Songkran
Thailand marks 1 January too, but the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran, falls in mid-April. It is a water festival: people splash each other, and at temples Buddha statues are gently bathed with water scattered with flower petals.
Ideas for your own celebration
- Add white flowers to your New Year arrangement, as in Brazil.
- Put blossoming branches in a vase, inspired by Tết.
- Throw a “summer” New Year party with tropical flowers and fruit.
To make a festive arrangement see New Year flower arrangements, and for winter holidays in Ukraine see Christmas in Ukraine on 25 December.
FAQ
Where does New Year arrive first?
Pacific islands, including parts of Kiribati, are among the first, followed by New Zealand and Australia.
Why do Vietnam and Thailand have two New Years?
They celebrate both 1 January and their traditional New Year by their own calendar — lunar (Tết) or the Thai solar calendar (Songkran).
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
