Some of the auspicious symbols that appear on Chinese New Year’s Cards. There are hundreds of different auspicious symbols used on cards for Chinese New Year, here are a few of them:

• Fish – Fish are also often used in Chinese New Year cards and they represent prosperity, wealth and a good fortune as the word “fish” in Chinese sounds like the word to be prosperous. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, all family members gather together to eat food, often travelling from far away. A whole fish is necessary and essential because it will give all people good fortune, wealth and a good career in the coming New Year.
• Gold – The colour Gold in the Chinese New Year’s customs represents “Wealthy” as traditionally in China rich people would buy gold items. Silver was much less common.
• Lotus is a watery plant and it represents the source of life in Chinese cards.
• Parrots represents life.
• Peonies – Peonies are often used in Chinese New Year cards as Peonies are one of the Chinese traditional flowers. It represents magnificent wealth, and its natural beauty and elegant fragrance makes peony the King of Flowers. Since ancient times, it implies wealth, good fortune and prosperity.It represents the Chinese nation as a great country of style. There are many poems describing Peonies and how as they grow, China becomes stronger.
• Plum Blossom is only in bloom in early spring and it represents New Year, new look.
• The Dragon represents the King in Chinese history and is often to be believed as the head of the country.
• The Snake is listed after the dragon in the 12 Chinese zodiacs, it is so called little dragon. The Snake has much less negative connotations in China than in other countries. Little dragon (The Snake), is listed after the dragon in the Chinese zodiacs and it represents Princes in the Royal family and wealth.
• Vases – Vases are a great symbol for Spring Festival as the sound of a vase being broken is homophonic to the pronunciation of “岁岁”, “岁岁” which means from year to year, everlasting.