“Two families are united by marriage with one covenant; the fate between the couple is forever sealed as they are now one.” In the early days in Taiwan, brides must wear the delicate blessing flower on their heads to show auspiciousness. The bride wears the Pomegranate, signifying fertility; the mothers of the groom and bride wear the Deer and the Turtle, signifying fortune and prosperity, respectively; and the couple’s aunts wear the Five-Fortune Flower, signifying happiness and health. Different shapes of blessing flowers are selected to represent the family status of the wearer.
Flower twining is a delicate and elegant folk craft that is rich in cultural connotation, but it has faded from people’s vision as the times changed. Just as it was about to disappear without anyone knowing, a pair of warm hands recollected it. After years of effort in careful conservation and operation, the wonderful craft is brought to the people once again. This is the work of the first preserver of the “art of the blessing flower” in Taiwan – Hui-Mei Chen.