- Title: Cambodians of Chinese descent prepare for the Lunar New Year
- Date: 26th January 2017
- Summary: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (JANUARY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) DECORATIONS VENDOR VENDOR WRAPPING DECORATIONS VENDOR PUTTING DECORATIONS IN PLASTIC BAG BUYER LOOKING ANOTHER BUYER CHECKING DECORATIONS DECORATIONS RED LANTERNS IN THE SHOP BUYER WALKING OUT OF THE SHOP PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF AUSPICIOUS PLANTS MARKET BUYERS LOOKING THE AUSPICIOUS PLANTS YELLOW FLOWER OF AN AUSPICIOUS PLANT BUYERS LOOKING AT THE AUSPICIOUS PLANT BUYER PUTTING AN AUSPICIOUS PLANT IN THE CAR MORE OF BUYERS LOOKING MORE OF PLANT (SOUNDBITE)(Khmer) AUSPICIOUS PLANT BUYER, CHHAY VISODA SAYING: "According to Chinese tradition, this year is the rooster year and it is a good year for most Chinese people and they will have good luck, but it's not good for those who were born in the Year of the Rooster." A WOMAN PREPARING YELLOW FLOWERS FOR SALE FLOWER SELLER PUTTING YELLOW FLOWERS IN CAR VENDORS (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) AUSPICIOUS PLANTS SELLER, SOK BUNTHOEUN SAYING: "The Chinese buy these auspicious plants with the yellow flowers on the three days of the new year because they believe that their businesses will grow like the yellow flowers from the plants and I also believe that." PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (JANUARY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) 28. VARIOUS OF LION DANCERS DANCING IN FRONT OF CAMBODIAN HOTEL 29. HOTEL STAFF WATCHING 30. VARIOUS OF DRAGON DANCE 31. DRAGON DANCERS WALKING INSIDE THE HOTEL 32. HOTEL STAFF TAKING PHOTOGRAPH 33. DRAGON DANCERS DANCING IN FRONT OF THE PRAYING TABLE 34. RED ENVELOPES WITH GOLD ROOSTER DESIGNS HANGING ON AUSPICIOUS PLANT IN HOTEL LOBBY 35. ENVELOPES 36. HOTEL STAFF PRAYING
- Embargoed: 9th February 2017 06:10
- Keywords: plants Chinese New Year buyer decoration
- Location: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- City: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- Country: Cambodia
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00160PVOSL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Roadside stalls selling red and gold decorations as well as auspicious plants were seeing brisk business in the Cambodian capital on Thursday (January 26), as people of Chinese descent did their last-minute shopping ahead of the Lunar New Year.
The Year of the Rooster starts on January 28.
Most popular were auspicious plants with yellow flowers, which represent good business. People buy them so that their businesses will grow like the flowers.
"According to Chinese tradition, this year is the rooster year and it is a good year for most Chinese people and they will have good luck, but it's not good for those who were born in the Year of the Rooster," said Chhay Visoda, who was shopping for a plant.
In Cambodia, the Lunar New Year holiday starts officially on the eve, on Friday (January 27).
Dragon and lion dances were performed in front of buildings of Chinese Cambodian businesses to drive away the evils from the past year.
There are no new exact numbers, but studies estimate around 700,000 ethnic Chinese currently live in Cambodia. The number is sharply higher than during the 1960s and 70s when Chinese Cambodians numbered around 425,000, according to the Association of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia.
A combination of the Khmer Rouge rule, conflict and economic stagnation and emigration shrank the community which once owned businesses and engaged in the food processing industry.
Cambodians who are not of Chinese descent celebrate the Khmer New Year which is in the middle of April. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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