During the five-fruit tray, especially on traditional Tet holiday, there are two types of fruits that cannot be missed on the altar, which are green bananas and pomelos. The altar on Tet that does not have green bananas and pomelos is not enough for Tet. For people in the South, fruit selection is based on language, so bananas and pomelos are not chosen. But for people in the Central and Northern regions, pomelos and bananas cannot be missing.
Especially in the worship, pomelo has a special meaning. The pronunciation of “pomelo” in Chinese is similar to the word “son”, so our ancestors used pomelos to symbolize health and male descendants.
Pomelo is a fruit symbolizing luck and wealth, with a bright yellow color on a bed of green bananas.
A round pomelo represents fullness and completeness, wishing for a new year of peace, prosperity, and abundance. Pomelo also represents a prayer for the prosperity and smoothness of the descendants’ path. Pomelo is usually placed on a bed of bananas. The long, curved bunch of bananas embraces and supports the pomelo, as well as other fruits, creating a sense of love, solidarity, and protection. This expresses the wish for a good and lucky new year, with the family having abundant fortunes.
In the five-fruit tray, people in the North cannot miss bananas and pomelos, while other fruits are chosen depending on each family.
Should we choose a round or pointed pomelo at the top?
Actually, a beautiful pomelo is one that is round and symmetrical. The pomelo’s skin should be shiny yellow, which will match the color of the bananas. If the pomelo’s skin is green, it will not stand out on the background of green bananas. Moreover, the five fruits represent the five elements, so if the banana bunch is already green, a pomelo with yellow skin will be more prominent and beautiful.
Pomelo represents roundness, fullness, and juiciness. Therefore, a round fruit symbolizes integrity. However, if a round fruit is placed on a banana bunch and looks like a ball, sometimes it will be short and pressed against the banana bunch. On the other hand, if a pomelo is full, symmetrical, but gradually tapers towards the stem and is held high above the leaves at the top, it will look more beautiful aesthetically. Therefore, many people will choose pomelos that are balanced, with beautiful and uniform skins, but with a slim shape that does not look like a ball, to make it easier to lift the pomelo high, with the knob and leaves visible, and place other fruits beside it.
However, in terms of feng shui, a round or tall and slim pomelo at the top is not affected. You can choose based on aesthetics to create a beautiful and harmonious five-fruit tray.
Notes when choosing pomelos for worship
The choice between a round or tall pomelo is mainly based on aesthetics. In addition, to create a beautiful and balanced five-fruit tray, which is stable on the altar, when choosing a pomelo, pay attention to:
The pomelo for worship, especially during Tet, should be fresh with shiny, round, and plump skin, not withered or wrinkled.
The pomelo should be evenly developed, without bending or leaning on one side.
The pomelo should still have its knob and green leaves, not with fake branches or leaves. It will be more beautiful than a pomelo with fallen stalk and leaves.
There are many different varieties of pomelos, so choose sweet ones with fragrant skin, bright yellow or red color, which will stand out in the five-fruit tray rather than choosing a pomelo with green skin that matches the green bananas.
When worshiping the pomelo, use a clean cloth to wipe it and let it dry. Avoid placing wet pomelo skin on the altar, as it can quickly become moldy, especially during the start of the new year when it starts to rain and the humidity increases.
The size of the pomelo should be proportional to the banana bunch so that it looks beautiful without being forced or too small inside the banana bunch. The way to choose a pomelo must be in proportion to the banana bunch to create a stable five-fruit tray without the risk of falling or breaking. Unfortunately, if the pomelo, banana, or other fruits are not stable and fall, it will indicate bad luck.
Information is for reference only
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