The lotus flower is a recurring Lunar New Year motif. One popular folk image, for instance, shows a chubby child holding an enormous carp in his arms surrounded by one or more lotus flowers in various stages of opening. In another version of this image, a pair of children and carp are depicted to underscore the message.
The picture expresses a wish for abundance year after year. This is because the fish is associated with bounty and the flowering lotus is emblematic of continuity; thus, the lotus stands for the promise of continuous abundance. Other designs may depict crabs or cranes in combination with lotus flowers, which represent the ideal of peace and harmony.
Pictures of lotus plants may not only translate as repetition or harmony, but can have a multitude of meanings. Lotus leaves could be read as a small purse while lotus seedpods suggest a wish for descendants. In addition, lotus seeds could symbolize fertility while lotus roots could convey the strength of a couple. Such unspoken blessings and felicitations evidence the aesthetic beauty of the lotus and emphasize its auspicious appearance.