The Presidential Office yesterday unveiled its Lunar New Year couplets, red envelopes and lucky bags to welcome the new year.
The designs were created by Akibo Lee (李明道) and features calligraphy by Chen Shi-chan (陳吉山), Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) told a news conference, adding that President William Lai (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) also contributed to this year’s design by hand-drawing portraits of a dog and cat to symbolize Taiwan’s warm and friendly attitude, and love for animals.
Three plants native to Taiwan, black ebony, shell ginger and Alexandrian laurel, are also featured on the artwork to give it a more festive appearance, he said.
Photo: CNA
The couplets and envelopes would be available from Wednesday to Jan. 24 at the Presidential Office Building, while the lucky bags would be distributed in person by Lai and Hsiao during the Lunar New Year activities, he added.
Other images and designs also carry meanings, such as the background image of concentric circles and radiating patterns — which symbolize focus, vision, peace and harmony — representing Taiwan’s commitment to democracy and hopes for a brighter future, Chen said.
The couplets and envelopes, inspired by the upcoming Year of the Snake, feature a snake head and a poem by Bai Ling (白聆), conveying a wish for harmony and prosperity, he said.
The phrase “Six harmonies bring spring” sounds the same as “good spring” in Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese), serves as a metaphor for prosperity and celebrates the upcoming holiday, Chen said.
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