1. Meaning of “mâm ngũ quả” in the Mid-Autumn festival
The tray of five fruits symbolizes the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. It contains five types of fruits with the desire for abundance and peace.
The word “quả” in “mâm ngũ quả” also carries the meaning of abundance and maintaining the lineage, the continuous growth and blooming of life.
The traditional tray of five fruits is arranged with the five main fruits, representing the five blessings: Prosperity, Prestige, Longevity, Health, and Peace.
The fruits typically included in the Mid-Autumn tray are banana, pomelo, orange, pomegranate, and persimmon (custard apple). The tray includes green fruits symbolizing the yang energy and ripe fruits symbolizing the yin energy, creating a balance in the universe.
2. Fruits included in the Mid-Autumn tray
The fruits included in the Mid-Autumn tray may vary depending on different regions:
– In the Northern region, the typical fruits are banana, pomelo, peach, and persimmon. Some people may also add Buddha’s hand fruit (finger citron) to the tray.
– In the Central region, the tray is simpler and often includes fruits such as banana, pomelo, mango, and papaya. It is traditionally offered to ancestors to pray for peace and luck in life.
– In the Southern region, people pay more attention to the presentation of the tray. It usually includes fruits such as papaya, custard apple, coconut, mango, and pineapple, symbolizing the wish for a harmonious and prosperous life.
3. How to arrange the Mid-Autumn tray
The arrangement of the Mid-Autumn tray may vary depending on the region:
– In the Northern region, start by placing a banana cluster at the bottom, representing the protection of heaven and earth. Then, place a pomelo in the center of the banana cluster, and arrange the other fruits around it.
– In the Central region, the focus is on using local fruits from the garden, such as mango, banana, papaya, etc. The arrangement can be based on personal creativity.
– In the Southern region, instead of using banana as the centerpiece, people use a watermelon or a green-colored pomelo. Then, other fruits like custard apple, mango, pineapple, etc., are arranged around it.
4. Creating fruit sculptures for the Mid-Autumn tray
The Mid-Autumn tray can be enhanced with fruit sculptures, adding an artistic touch to the presentation. Here are a couple of examples:
– How to create a fish sculpture with dragon fruit:
– Prepare a dragon fruit, lychee, and pomelo skin.
– Cut the pomelo skin into the shape of fish fins.
– Cut the dragon fruit into a triangular shape at one end to create the mouth of the fish, and hollow out the body of the dragon fruit for attaching the fins.
– Use lychee seeds as the fish’s eyes.
– How to create a dog sculpture with a pomelo:
– Peel off the green skin of the pomelo, separate the segments, and arrange them to create the dog’s fur.
– Attach a mandarin or orange to the front of the pomelo as the dog’s head.
– Use papaya to create the dog’s mouth and ears.
– Attach some longan seeds or litchi seeds as the dog’s eyes.
– Tie a cute bow around the dog’s neck to complete the sculpture.
5. Tips for arranging the Mid-Autumn tray
Here are some tips to consider when arranging the Mid-Autumn tray:
– Choose fresh and vibrant fruits, free from bruises or blemishes.
– Do not wash the fruits before arranging to avoid spoilage. Simply use a cloth to wipe off any dust.
Every year, the Mid-Autumn festival, also known as Trung Thu festival, takes place on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It is also called the Reunion festival, alongside the tradition of worshiping ancestors, the tray of five fruits is an indispensable item, consisting of five main types of fruits that are in season during autumn, with diverse colors and profound meanings. It represents the faith and hope of the person presenting the tray, wishing for luck, peace, and prosperity for their family, village, and beyond…Let’s explore the commentary on the tray of five fruits to understand its significance during the Mid-Autumn festival!
1 The significance of the Mid-Autumn tray of five fruits
“Mâm ngũ quả” symbolizes the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. It is a tray with five types of fruits, symbolizing abundance and peace.
The word “quả” in the term “mâm ngủ quả” also carries the meaning of abundance. Additionally, it symbolizes the continuation of the lineage, the continuous growth and blooming of life.
The traditional tray of five fruits is arranged with five fruits, symbolizing the five blessings: Wealth, Nobility, Longevity, Health, and Peace.
The Mid-Autumn tray of five fruits is traditionally arranged with fruits that are in season during autumn, such as banana, pomelo, orange, pomegranate, and persimmon. The tray contains green fruits symbolizing yang energy and ripe fruits symbolizing yin energy. It represents the combination of yin and yang, showcasing the balance in the universe.
Mid-Autumn tray of five fruits
Ripe and aromatic bananas, red peaches symbolizing hope, pomegranates with numerous seeds representing the desire for growth and prosperity, pomelos symbolizing coolness and goodness, and persimmons bringing sweetness and good luck.
In modern life, people might arrange the tray of five fruits with not only the five main types of fruits but also add fruits from different regions to make the tray more lively. However, the tray is still called the tray of five fruits, carrying its inherent meaning.
References:
2 Five types of fruits in the Mid-Autumn tray
From ancient times, the tray of five fruits has been an indispensable custom during Tết (New Year) in Vietnam. The Mid-Autumn festival is no exception; it also has a tray of five fruits, although the meaning might vary in different regions:
Mid-Autumn tray in the Northern region
The typical fruits for the Mid-Autumn tray in the Northern region are banana, pomelo, peach, and persimmon. Some people might replace the pomelo with Buddha’s hand fruit.
Nowadays, many people also choose a variety of fruits with different colors to pray for wealth, abundance, and contentment.
Mid-Autumn tray in the Northern region
If you are looking for meaningful wishes to give to friends and family on this Mid-Autumn festival, check out our collection of 50+ wishes!
Mid-Autumn tray in the Central region
The Central region often has a simpler tray, featuring fruits such as mango, banana, papaya, etc. The purpose is to sincerely offer to ancestors and pray for peace and good luck in life.
Mid-Autumn tray in the Central region
Mid-Autumn tray in the Southern region
People in the Southern region value the tradition of offering the tray more. Therefore, the tray of five fruits is more elaborately prepared, often including fruits such as papaya, custard apple, coconut, mango, and pineapple. It is understood as “Praying for having enough to use”, showing their respect for ancestors and praying for good luck and happiness for their family.
Mid-Autumn tray in the Southern region
3 How to arrange the Mid-Autumn tray of five fruits
Arrangement in the Northern region
To arrange the tray in the Northern region, start by placing a cluster of bananas at the bottom, representing the protection of heaven and earth. Then, place a pomelo in the center of the cluster and arrange the other fruits around it.
You can also add additional fruits like pear, apple, orange, longan, etc., depending on your preferences.
Arrangement in the Central region
People in the Central region focus more on using local fruits from their gardens, such as mango, banana, papaya, etc. The arrangement can be based on personal creativity.
Arrangement in the Southern region
People in the Southern region do not use banana as the centerpiece. Instead, they use watermelon or green pomelo. Then, other fruits like custard apple, mango, longan, papaya, etc., are arranged around it.
Arranging the Mid-Autumn tray of five fruits
4 Creating fruit sculptures for the Mid-Autumn tray
Creating a fish sculpture with dragon fruit
Creating a fish sculpture with dragon fruit
Ingredients:
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1 dragon fruit
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Lychee
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Pomelo skin
Instructions:
Step 1: Cut the pomelo skin to create the fish fins, including a dorsal fin and two smaller fins on the sides.
Step 2: Use a knife to cut the dragon fruit into a triangular shape at one end to create the fish’s mouth. Hollow out the body of the dragon fruit to attach the fins.
Step 3: Use lychee seeds as the fish’s eyes.
Creating a dog sculpture with pomelo
Creating a dog sculpture with pomelo
Ingredients:
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1 pomelo
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1 orange or mandarin
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Half a papaya
Instructions:
Step 1: Peel off the green skin of the pomelo, separate the segments, and arrange them to create the dog’s fur.
Step 2: Attach an orange or mandarin to the front of the pomelo as the dog’s head.
Step 3: Use papaya to create the dog’s mouth and ears.
Step 4: Attach some longan seeds or lychee seeds as the dog’s eyes.
Step 5: Tie a cute bow around the dog’s neck to complete the sculpture.
References:
5 Tips for arranging the Mid-Autumn tray
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Choose fresh and vibrant fruits with no blemishes or damages.
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Select fruits that are still fresh and not overripe.
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Avoid washing the fruits before arranging to prevent spoilage. Simply use a cloth to wipe off any dust.
Tips for arranging the Mid-Autumn tray
We hope that through this commentary on the tray of five fruits, you now understand the meaningful message that our ancestors want to convey. The Mid-Autumn festival is not just a time for family gatherings and children’s entertainment, but also a wonderful space for generations to share the beautiful meanings of customs and folklore. Let’s continue preserving and promoting these values for the future.
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