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Why Are Pink Roses the Official Flower of the Vu Lan Festival?

The donning of a rose during the Vu Lan festival is a symbolic gesture of gratitude and remembrance towards one's parents, grandparents, and ancestors. It is a time-honored tradition where the rose serves as a physical emblem of love and respect, worn close to the heart as a reminder of the bond between generations.

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10 September, 2024

The Significance of the Rose Ceremony

The Rose Ceremony during the Vu Lan festival is a way for children to honor and express their gratitude to their parents, grandparents, and ancestors. During this ceremony, Buddhists hold baskets of roses of different colors (red, light pink, white, and yellow) to pin onto each attendee’s garment.

According to Master Thich An Dat (Thien Truc Pagoda, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City), Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh proposed the “Rose Ceremony.” In 1962, the Zen Master was invited to attend a thanksgiving ceremony in Japan to honor mothers. The organizers pinned a white carnation on the Zen Master’s chest to signify that his life partner had passed away. Recognizing the profound significance of this gesture, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh incorporated this ritual into the Vu Lan festival. Since then, the Rose Ceremony has become popular and continues to this day.

The “Rose Ceremony” is not only a beautiful cultural tradition but also a reminder to all children. No matter how busy life gets, never forget to show filial piety to your parents and always remind yourself: “If you still have your mother, don’t ever make her cry. Don’t let sadness show in her eyes.”

Why roses, and not some other flower? Roses are chosen for the Vu Lan ceremony because they symbolize gratitude, filial piety, and appreciation. Additionally, roses represent sincere, lasting love, nobility, and a sweet fragrance. Remembering one’s parents and pinning a rose to one’s chest is the most beautiful sentiment and the sacred virtue of filial piety that children wish to convey. During the Vu Lan festival, people of all ages, genders, and walks of life are overwhelmed with gratitude as they receive a rose and pin it to their chest solemnly.

The Special Meanings of the Rose Colors

Yellow Rose

Meaning: For monks and nuns who have renounced worldly life. In Buddhism, yellow represents letting go, liberation, and the color of the path to enlightenment. Pinning a yellow rose to the chest affirms the sacred mission of using the physical body, given by one’s parents, to seek liberation and repay the debt of gratitude to them.

Red Rose

Meaning: For those who still have both their father and mother. This act serves as a reminder that having both parents is the greatest fortune in life. Red roses signify love, warmth, and family unity. Cherish this happiness and never take your parents for granted.

Light Pink Rose

Meaning: For those who have only a father or a mother. People who have lost either their father or mother will pin a light pink rose instead of a vibrant red one. The light pink rose conveys gentleness, compassion, and fond remembrance for the deceased, expressing gratitude to the surviving parent.

White Rose

Meaning: For those who have lost both their parents. The pure white color symbolizes remembrance and the separation of the living and the dead. Pinning a white rose serves as a profound reminder that life is finite. Live honorably so that your departed parents can rest in peace.

Frequently asked questions

Pink roses symbolize gratitude, appreciation, and wish for a better future. The color pink is also believed to represent the Buddha’s light and compassion.

Vu Lan Festival is a time for Vietnamese people to show their gratitude and respect to their parents and ancestors. It is also a time to remember the teachings of Buddha and to practice compassion and kindness towards others.

During the Vu Lan Festival, people often visit pagodas to pray for their parents and ancestors. They may also offer food and gifts to the monks and practice acts of kindness and charity. It is also common to see people wearing pink roses or carrying pink lanterns during the festival.

The Vu Lan Festival originates from the story of Maudgalyayana, a disciple of the Buddha, who used his supernatural powers to search for his mother in the realm of the hungry ghosts. He found her suffering and immediately tried to help her. However, he was unable to do so with his own power alone. Buddha then advised him to make merit and dedicate it to his mother, which eventually helped her escape from the realm of the hungry ghosts.

Lanterns are used during the Vu Lan Festival to symbolize the light of the Buddha’s teachings, which guide people out of suffering and towards enlightenment. The pink color of the lanterns also represents compassion and gratitude.