Year's end approaches

[heliopausa]

The fish were released into the rivers and lakes last week, and branches of peach-blossom have been going by on the backs of motor-bikes - even biggish whole trees, though those are more often for renting than buying.  And of course the little cumquat trees are all about, with golden fruit; the best trees, the luckiest, have fruit, and fresh green leaves and blossom, all three, to indicate three generations of family all prospering and well.
And Thursday night will be the night of most intense anticipation, and midnight will see the year roll over, and fireworks, and people walking through the streets (not a parade, just going home or wherever) carrying long stalks of black sugar cane, and the Year of the Earth Dog, Mậu Tuất, will begin.  May it be a good year for all of us.

Comments

[sovay]

The fish were released into the rivers and lakes last week, and branches of peach-blossom have been going by on the backs of motor-bikes - even biggish whole trees, though those are more often for renting than buying. And of course the little cumquat trees are all about, with golden fruit; the best trees, the luckiest, have fruit, and fresh green leaves and blossom, all three, to indicate three generations of family all prospering and well.

That is beautifully written.

May it be a good year for all of us.

Amen!

[heliopausa]

Thank you! :)

[asakiyume]

That's neat about fruit, leaves, and blossoms symbolizing three generations of family prospering--what a great image for it.

If you rent a whole tree, what happens when you're done with the rental? (Are they living, with root balls and all? Do they get planted somewhere? Or stored somewhere for next year? Or...?)

Hope this week's festivities are wonderful, and happy year of the dog!

[heliopausa]

Oh, yes, they're living and rental ones come in biggish proper containers - plant-pots. They go back home to the villages and farms which specialise in this, but I expect are not planted out, just nurtured for next year - and cleverly managed so that they produce the fruit at the right time, which is a little early for "real" fruit.

Thank you! :) The feasting and visiting have already started, in a small way, but tonight at midnight is the night! :) The night of the beginning, anyway.

[autumnia]

If you rent a tree, are you allowed to pluck any of the fruit?

And wishing you a Happy Lunar New Year as well!

[heliopausa]

What an excellent question! :)
There's often a sign that a laden tree has gone past on the back of a motorbike or similar, in the shape of fallen fruit, so I can't image there would be any problem with picking one or two... but a stripped tree? Oh, I expect that would be quite a different matter!

And thank you! :)

[blueinkedfrost]

This is a lovely post. What beautiful and powerful imagery about the changing of the year and the natural world.

[heliopausa]

Thank you! I love this time of year. :)

[adaeze]

Happy New Year!