Fruits and flowers are indispensable offerings in Vietnamese families’ ancestral worship. Many people wonder whether the fruit plate should be placed on the right or left side of the altar to conform to the ancients’ rules.
Should the fruit plate be placed on the right or left side of the altar?
According to folk beliefs, the incense burner has been placed in the center of the altar since ancient times, symbolizing the central position where the stars converge. Oil lamps or candles are placed on both sides of the incense burner. The fruit tray is placed in front, and the incense burner is placed behind when viewed from the worshipper’s perspective facing the altar.
Our ancestors applied the arrangement principle of “flowers on the east and fruits on the west.” This arrangement originates from the natural law that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, as well as the law that flowers bloom before bearing fruit. Therefore, in worship, the flower vase is placed on the east side, and the fruit tray is placed on the west side.
The orientation of the altar is determined as follows:
– The direction from inside the altar outwards, i.e., the left side of the ancestors (left) is considered the east.
– The opposite direction (right) is considered the west.
This concept stems from the habit that the ancestral altar is usually placed in the middle of the house, facing south. The flower vase is placed on the left side of the altar (east), and the fruit plate is placed on the right (west), which is also convenient for arranging offerings.
Fruits commonly offered on the ancestral altar
On the altar, people usually offer five types of fruits, stemming from the theory of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. These five fundamental elements are believed to constitute the universe in the ancient Eastern philosophy.
Typically, the five-fruit tray includes five different colored fruits such as green bananas, golden pomelos, white pears, orange tangerines, and red apples. These fruits symbolize five daily life wishes: Wealth + Honor + Longevity + Health + Peace. The following are some popular choices:
+ Oranges, tangerines, and pomelos
Oranges and tangerines, with their round shapes resembling coins, are believed to bring wealth and prosperity. Additionally, the yellow and red colors symbolize good luck. Many families choose red-fleshed pomelos for their ancestral offerings to attract good fortune.
+ Dragon fruit
Red-skinned dragon fruit with green, plump “ears” pointing upwards symbolizes prosperity and development. People often offer dragon fruit, hoping for a favorable life path, like a dragon meeting auspicious clouds.
+ Buddha’s hand fruit
Buddha’s hand fruit is also a popular choice for ancestral offerings. Besides its pleasant and gentle fragrance, its shape resembles the Buddha’s hand, signifying a wish for protection and peace.
+ Mango
The yellow color of mango, associated with the Metal element, symbolizes wealth. This fruit is commonly offered by people in Southern Vietnam due to its name, which is similar to the word “spend” in the local dialect. It is displayed with four other fruits during the Lunar New Year to form a set called “cầu sung dừa đủ xoài,” wishing for a comfortable and prosperous life.
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