Ripe Bananas
Bananas are a popular fruit in Vietnamese spiritual culture, especially in the North. However, bananas are believed to attract hungry ghosts. The seventh month is when hungry ghosts are released from the gates of hell and wander in the mortal realm. Therefore, offering bananas as a sacrifice may attract these spirits. It is especially advised against bringing bananas when visiting ancestral graves, as the act of accepting the fruit offering and bringing it home could potentially lead the hungry ghosts to follow.
Avoid Offering Ripe Bananas
The presence of these spirits, according to ancient beliefs, can cause fatigue, illness, and other misfortunes for the household. Additionally, ripe bananas tend to fall off and attract mosquitoes, which is particularly undesirable during the wet and humid season of the seventh month.
Jackfruit, Durian, and Mangosteen
These fruits are characterized by their numerous spines, which are believed to create negative energy that affects the feng shui of the ancestral altar. Moreover, their strong and distinctive aromas can overpower the scent of incense and sacred agarwood, which is considered unfavorable for worship. During the seventh month, when the weather is typically rainy, humid, and heavy with negative energy, the burning of incense and sacred agarwood is believed to help dispel evil spirits. Offering jackfruit and durian as sacrifices may reduce the effectiveness of this practice, bringing negative consequences for the family.
Jackfruit and Durian: Inappropriate for Worship Due to Their Spines and Strong Aromas
Pears
While pears are sweet and have various benefits, they are often avoided due to their name, which carries negative connotations and is associated with bad luck and separation in the Han language. As the seventh-month worship is a way of paying respect to ancestors and elders, offering pears is considered inauspicious and detrimental to the spiritual connection with the ancestors.
Watermelons and Melons: Crawling Close to the Ground
During the hot summer days of the seventh month, watermelons and melons are refreshing and widely available. However, these fruits are also not recommended for offering. In their growth process, these fruits tend to crawl close to the ground, and even when sold, they are often displayed on the ground. Folk beliefs suggest that this makes them susceptible to absorbing negative energy.
As the seventh month is already heavy with negative energy, it is advisable to avoid anything that might add to it. Therefore, it is believed that offering these fruits on the ancestral altar could bring in negative energy and disrupt the altar’s energy field. Ancestral worship is a meticulous practice, and traditionally, only fruits grown above the ground, with beautiful colors, and cultivated in clean environments were chosen for offerings. Hence, it is important to be cautious when selecting fruits for worship. If you can ensure that your watermelons are grown in a clean greenhouse, they can be offered after thoroughly washing and drying them.
Watermelons Absorb Negative Energy Due to Their Proximity to the Ground
Chili Peppers
Chili peppers turn red when ripe and are often used for decoration in the five-fruit tray. However, their spicy taste is believed to be unfavorable for the deceased. Additionally, chilies symbolize bitterness, sourness, and pain. The seventh month is considered one of the most important months for ancestor worship, second only to the first month of the year. Therefore, while the ceremony does not need to be grand, it should be conducted solemnly and carefully, bringing positive meanings and peace of mind to the family.
The most important aspect of any offering is sincerity. These beliefs may vary depending on individual spiritual perspectives, so feel free to adapt them to fit your local context.
*Reference information for spiritual contemplation
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