The Five Fruits for Lunar New Year: A Vietnamese Tradition
The Lunar New Year fruit tray is an integral part of Vietnamese culture. Across regions, the selection of fruits varies, each bringing a unique touch to the celebration. A bountiful tray of five fruits is believed to bring peace and prosperity to the family, a beautiful tradition passed down through generations.
Five Fruits to Display for the Lunar New Year
Banana: The distinctive shape of a banana bunch resembles an open hand, symbolizing protection and shelter. In feng shui, bananas represent abundance and good fortune. Placing bananas on the altar of the God of Wealth is said to attract wealth and luck in all aspects of life.
Buddha’s Hand Citron: The unique shape of this fruit resembles the hand of Buddha. Therefore, it is often used for worship, with the hope that the family will be blessed and protected by the deities, bringing peace and the strength to overcome life’s challenges.
Peach: Known for its longevity and immortality, the peach is also a beloved feng shui symbol. It represents luck and career advancement and is associated with love and marriage.
Oranges, tangerines, and persimmons are not only vibrant in color but also have a distinct fragrance. They symbolize success and development in all areas of life. It is believed that these fruits bring luck and prosperity to the family while their fragrance drives away bad luck and invites positive energy into the home.
Grapes: Grapes are a symbol of fertility and abundance and represent success. In feng shui, a bunch of grapes is believed to resolve issues related to childbirth. Including grapes in the five-fruit tray on the altar is a wish for family harmony and good health.
Three Fruits to Avoid in the Five-Fruit Tray
Deformed or Odd-Shaped Fruits: Fruits with unusual shapes, scars, or thorns, as well as wilted or damaged fruits, are believed to bring negative energy. Displaying such fruits is also considered disrespectful to ancestors.
Low-Growing Fruits: Fruits that grow close to the ground or are related to vegetables, such as tomatoes, sour sop, or pineapple, are usually not chosen for the Lunar New Year fruit tray.
Round and smooth-skinned fruits are preferred for offerings as they are believed to carry positive energy and symbolize smoothness and ease. The round shape also represents heaven (round sky, square earth), reflecting the sincerity of the offering.
Bitter or Pungent Fruits: Fruits with bitter, pungent, or extremely sour tastes are avoided. The belief is that if the living cannot enjoy such flavors, neither can the deities and ancestors.
Therefore, fruits with these tastes are not used for offerings during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
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