In Vietnamese culture, offering flowers is an essential part of ancestor worship, and flowers are also presented to the Gods of Wealth and Land. Flowers symbolize purity, reverence, and respect for one’s ancestors and deities. However, not all flowers are suitable for altar offerings, especially on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month.
1. Lilies – Attract wealth but can lead to separation
Lilies are stunning and fragrant, often associated with nobility. Yet, in the context of yin and yang and the five elements, the word “lily” implies separation and parting.
Placing lilies on the altar at the beginning of the month or during the full moon may bring about separation within the family. It can disrupt business ventures and cause wealth and prosperity to dissipate.
2. Hibiscus – Short-lived prosperity, prone to decline
Hibiscus flowers are beautiful but short-lived, blooming in the morning and withering by nightfall. In feng shui, this symbolizes fleeting prosperity and instability.
Placing hibiscus on the altar can cause the family’s vibrant energy to wither, leading to financial instability and the inability to retain wealth. Especially during the first day of the lunar month, when one wishes for a fresh start and ascending fortune, hibiscus should be avoided.
3. Jasmine – Incompatible with the solemn atmosphere
Jasmine flowers are pure white, but their fragrance is overpowering, sometimes considered too strong for the serene and solemn atmosphere of an ancestral or deity altar.
Additionally, jasmine holds limited symbolic significance in the context of worship. In folk belief, offering jasmine may diminish reverence, hinder wealth accumulation, and cause the family’s vibrant energy to decline.
4. Marigolds – Inauspicious implications
Marigolds are commonly displayed during festivals and celebrations, but their name, “vạn thọ,” which translates to “longevity,” is ironically associated with funerals and separation in folk culture.
The scent of marigolds can be overwhelming and may overpower the aroma of incense, disrupting the worship atmosphere. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, when homeowners seek to attract new positive energy, marigolds should be avoided on the altar.
Notes on choosing flowers for the altar on the first and full moon days:
Opt for flowers with auspicious meanings, long-lasting freshness, and elegant colors, such as lotuses, yellow chrysanthemums, alstroemerias, and white lilies. These flowers are believed to bring good fortune and enhance the family’s vitality and wealth.
The first and full moon days are opportunities for homeowners to invite luck and prosperity for the new month. Therefore, flower choices for the altar should be made with caution, avoiding the four types mentioned above to prevent the dissipation of positive energy. Instead, opt for flowers that attract blessings, peace, and abundance.
