Move over, mandarin oranges and pineapples. According to a feng shui expert, apples can also be considered as "good luck" fruits for the Chinese New Year.
IS it possible to eat your way to health, wealthy and prosperity? Apparently so, according to the apple people. But it’s not even necessary to consume the fruits, says a feng shui expert: just place them appropriately around the house, to bring in energy flows for harmony in the room, be it home or office.

In a few weeks, Chinese all over the world will bid farewell to the Year of the "Red Fire" Boar and welcome the Year of the "Brown Earth" Rat. Lots of frantic preparations, spring cleaning, decorating, cooking will be carried out to usher in the new year as the 12-year zodiac begins again. Lucky fruits for the Lunar New Year are not just the conventional mandarin oranges or pineapples, says geomantic researcher and consultant Kenny Hoo, a keen student of Chinese history, culture and tradition.

He says that for the coming Year of the Rat, red and shiny apples will be the fruit to bring in health, peace and harmony. Apples are long regarded as a symbol of peace. The Chinese word for apple, ping, phonetically sounds like the word for "peace" or "safe". There is a saying that the word originates from Sanskrit, translated from pin bo during the Han Dynasty, which means "pacifying the wave". Hoo says that placing a plate of fresh red apples in the centre of the home, on the coffee table or the dining table, for example, will dispel the negative chi or energy forces responsible for arguments and disagreements amongst family members. The same advice applies to businesses and offices, display a bowl of red apples to ensure no bitterness occur among employees.

And according to Washington Apples, all five elements necessary to bring about balance, metal, wood, water, fire and earth, are contained in apples grown in Washington State, in the US. The fruit itself is ripe, succulent and juicy, which in feng shui terms represents a rich and happy life for those who consume it, according to publicity material from the Washington Apple Commission, the marketing board of the apple industry of Washington State. Apples are mainly spherical in shape, red, hard and shiny, all of which are yang qualities. Keeping an apple (edible or not) on your desk can help keep your concentration sharp and your eye for details keen so you are quick, alert and ready to roll with the new day no matter what challenges lie ahead, says Washington Apples.

Red is welcomed in Chinese traditions as a colour that wards off evil and brings happiness to people. The fiery red colour is well suited for businesses because it symbolises the ability to expand and promote robustly, while representing fame and reputation. Hence, the red delicious variety of apples is well suited for those in politics or entertainment. Granny Smith apples are green, a colour in feng shuithat represents the wood element, relating to the family or the foundation. Displaying green apples will help one to improve family relationships, to be treated like part of the family even if you are not blood-related, to feel more secured in life or ward off worries of paying basic bills, according to Hoo.

Yellow represents the earth element, relating to health. Golden Delicious apples are useful to have good health overall, feel more balanced or serene, or in situations where moods or feelings need to be improved. Orange belongs to the earth element in feng shui, while yellow signifies the fire element. Both elements support each other (fire warms up the earth); Gala apples have an orange-yellow skin, thus a good choice for those who wish to achieve that balance.

Jonagold apples have a yellow-green skin with a red-orange blush, thus incorporating fire, wood and earth elements in one. Cripps Pink apples have a a pink skin, the universal colour of love. The use of pink in the south-west area of one’s space is recommended as it is connected to love and marriage, says Hoo.