DAVID GREENE, HOST: Okay. You might think that we’re well into 2014, but to many people we have just begun the Year of the Horse.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: The Lunar New Year is celebrated across China, not to mention many homes in the United States. For Ying Compestine, the author of cookbooks and children’s books, the Chinese New Year is part of life.

GREENE: And the rotating symbols for each year mean a lot.

YING COMPESTINE: The Year of the Horse is meant for those people that are determined and want to reach their goal, they will get rewarded for their hard work and they should go for it.

GREENE: We reached Compestine at her home in Northern California, where she was cleaning and decorating, both of which are rituals of the New Year.

COMPESTINE: I always have firecrackers hanging from the ceiling to scare away the evil spirits, red tablecloth,

Flowers are a fun festive way to show you care. They have been the most popular gift since the 1700’s, and there is no sign of this tradition slowing down. With one of the top flower giving holidays just around the corner, deciding on a blossom for your honey can be a fun but extensive task. Be fresh and innovative this year, putting aside your trusty red rose. Instead, quickly "petal" your way down our list to find the flower that is sure to please your true love

Personalizing your flowers is a special way to send joy to others. It will show that you gave thought to the recipient and that you appreciate them. Flowers are for women and men alike, so consider who you are sending them to. And remember, you don’t have to choose just one type of flower. Sending a multi-flower bouquet is a practical and loving way to brighten someone’s day!

Carnations 康乃馨

Meaning: Admiration, Fascination, Love 代表這 欽佩，魅力，愛情

Dating back to the time of Greek and Romans, this delightfully ruffled flower has also been called the "flower of the gods". With their classic beauty and long-lasting freshness, carnation are a charming choice for your leading lady.

Gerbera Daisies 非洲菊

Meaning: Beauty, Innocence, Cheer代表美麗，純潔，振奮

A smile is sure to bloom when your loved one takes a look at this striking and brilliant flower. An array of vibrantcolors will leave a warm and lively impression. The perfect flower to lift spirits or to simply bring joy to someone’s day.

Orchids 蘭花

Meaning: Love, Beauty, Luxury, Strength 代表愛，美麗，力量

Reigning from Persia, this exotic and unique flower is not for an ordinary heart. It is rare, delicate and will certainly captivate its recipient. An exceptional pick for those treasured people in your life.

Tulips 郁金香

Meaning: Perfect love 博愛，完美的愛情

Elegant and sophisticated, the tulip is a very romantic flower to give. It is for the woman who enjoys beauty in its simplest form. With so many colors to choose from, it is a chic option during the season of love.

Iris 蝴蝶花

Meaning: Hope, Passion, Admiration, Wisdom 希望，熱情，贊賞，智慧

Once used to make perfume and to decorate ancient Egyptian palaces, the iris borrows it name from the Greek word for "rainbow". Irises are stylish for many occasions; express deep sentiments with dark blue, purple, and yellow, or select another color to tenderly say "thinking of you".

Lily 百合

Meaning: Innocence, Sweetness, Purity 天真，純潔，甜蜜，

Lilies have been a popular and deeply symbolic flower of love. Refined and a tasteful, they are a spectacular flower to give and receive. Why not bump it up a notch and select a Stargazer lily? This bold and beautiful hybrid is a true standout with its seductive fragrance and stunning appearance.

Roses 玫瑰

Meaning: Passion, True Love, Romance 熱情，真愛，浪漫

Ranking at number one in the romantic flowers department, the rose is so popular that there are 150 types! Its silky petals and subtly sweet aroma make it a celebrity among blossoms. With a wide selection of colors and sizes, say "I love you" this year by thinking out of the box -instead of the usual red blooms, send a bouquet of orange or lavender roses which invoke feelings of passion and enchantment

Sunflowers 太陽

Meaning: Loyalty, Longevity, Admiration 忠實，長壽，贊賞

Send ongoing happy thoughts with this sunny flower! Its bright petals will have your loved one feeling adored all day long-now who doesn’t want that?

Gardenias 梔子花

Meaning: Lovely, Secret Love 暗戀

Gardenias are legendary for their strong, sweet scent and exquisite white petals. Luxurious and graceful, a gardenia bonsai tree is a stunning and matchless gift. Perfectly creative for that fabulous loved one who has everything!

Forget Me Not 勿忘我

Meaning: True love 真愛

Show your affection this season with this small but splendid blue flower. It has been the symbol of lovers’ devotion for centuries. Your heart will speak of your fervent and enduring love.

double (unintelligible) and some Chinese calligraphy for the good, happy year, and the red, of course, represent good luck. I even have a red door.

INSKEEP: Compestine came to America in the 1980s after growing up in China. New Years in her youth were austere. Children traditionally get haircuts and new clothes for the New Year, hoping evil spirits won’t recognize them, but sometimes her family could not afford that.

COMPESTINE: I remember my mother would cook on the coal stove, would have to go out to wait in a long line to buy the coal and, you know, one stove, that would take days to prepare all these dishes. And my favorite dish is dumplings. You know, when I was growing up in China, oil is rationed, so we always, every year, instead of the deep fried or pan fried dumplings, in my home we always have steamed dumplings, which is, even today, still my favorite.

GREENE: And she offers her own take on the traditional dumpling in her most recent cookbook, "Cooking With An Asian Accent" and the recipe is at NPR.org.

INSKEEP: This New Year’s weekend, Compestine is serving symbolic dishes, ribs for strength.

GREENE: Fish for prosperity.

INSKEEP: Long noodles for a long life.

GREENE: And sticky sweet rice cakes. The round shape evokes the family circle and the circle of friendship.

COMPESTINE: Now, after this, I’m really excited to the kitchen to start cooking.

INSKEEP: But before she went to the kitchen, Ying Compestine said one more thing to our producers. She’d heard that my family includes a daughter adopted from China, so she sent us a message.

COMPESTINE: (Speaking foreign language) - so what I just said in Chinese is wish you a happy Chinese New Year. I hope you and your family will have a chance to celebrate Chinese New Year with me someday, together.

INSKEEP: Oh, thank you. I’d love that. I’d love that, especially if you’re cooking. That’s cookbook and children’s book author Ying Compestine. Happy New Year.

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（兼職編輯：楊帆）