In Vietnamese cultural practices, bananas are a familiar fruit often chosen for ancestral altar offerings during festivals, Lunar New Year, and on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month.
1. The Significance of Bananas in the Five-Fruit Tray
Bananas, especially green bananas (plantains or dessert bananas), are considered symbolic of protection and envelopment, representing the ancestral guardianship of their descendants. In the five-fruit tray, the banana bunch is typically placed at the bottom, serving as a supportive hand, bestowing stability, abundance, and good fortune.
2. Should Two Banana Bunches Be Combined for Offering?
The answer is no.
Even if you purchase two identical banana bunches, combining them into one for offering contradicts Vietnamese spiritual and aesthetic beliefs in the following ways:
❌ It appears patched together and lacks solemnity.
Combining two banana bunches often looks unnatural, leading to an unbalanced and unattractive presentation. This diminishes the solemnity of the ritual offering, which is considered taboo in the realm of worship.
Contradicts the Symbol of “Protective Hand”
Each banana bunch is seen as a protective hand. Combining two bunches distorts this familiar symbol, diminishing the original meaning of envelopment and support conveyed by a single bunch.
Incomplete Spiritual Offering
Ancestral offerings require sincerity and precision. A full, lush bunch of bananas expresses reverence and respect for one’s ancestors. Combining two bunches may be perceived as insincere, indicating a lack of thoughtful preparation, and could even be interpreted as a perfunctory gesture.
3. What to Do in Unavoidable Circumstances
If, due to objective reasons (difficulty in procurement, off-season, small bananas, etc.) you must use two bunches, you can consider the following options:
-
Offer each bunch separately on either side of the altar or place them symmetrically to maintain balance, avoiding the creation of a faux single bunch.
-
Carefully decorate and balance the offerings, ensuring harmony, cleanliness, and tidiness.
-
Above all, maintain sincerity—a value that our ancestors prioritized in all ritual ceremonies.
4. Some Notes on Choosing Bananas for Offering
-
Opt for green bananas that are not overly ripe, with a curved shape.
-
Avoid bananas with cracked, bruised, or overly yellow tips.
-
Ensure the bananas are fresh, without any strange odors, and not wilted.
-
Select an odd number of bananas (typically nine or eleven) as this is considered lucky.
In the worship of ancestors, every detail reflects the sincerity and precision of the descendant. Combining two banana bunches for offering is not advisable, as it affects both the aesthetic and spiritual aspects. It is essential to choose carefully and offer a complete and abundant bunch of bananas to demonstrate genuine reverence and fulfill the true meaning of respect.
