Every year, during the Tet holiday season, one of the indispensable elements for Tet decorations on the family altar is the five-fruit tray. The five-fruit tray displayed on the ancestral altar during Tet not only creates a festive atmosphere but also carries profound spiritual significance.
See the video tutorial on how to arrange the five-fruit tray here
1What is the five-fruit tray?
The five-fruit tray refers to a tray of fruits with approximately five different types of fruits that are usually displayed during the Vietnamese New Year or Tet. The five-fruit tray is typically placed on the ancestral altar or on a table for receiving guests.
Five-fruit tray with Buddha’s hand fruit in the center for good luck in the new year
These fruits are used to symbolize the wishes of the host through their names, colors, and the way they are arranged.
Nowadays, when arranging the five-fruit tray for Tet, it often carries decorative purposes rather than solely spiritual meanings as in the past.
2The Significance of the Five-Fruit Tray in Different Regions
The five-fruit tray typically consists of five different types of fruits, and this is also mentioned in the Vu Lan Bon Sutra with the symbolic image of five-colored fruits.
For Vietnamese people, the number five symbolizes the aspiration for Ngũ Phúc Lâm Môn (the Five Blessings):
-
Phú: Wealth and abundance
-
Quý: Nobility and prestige
-
Thọ: Longevity
-
Khang: Good health
-
Ninh: Peace and tranquility
In Buddhism, the five colors of the five-fruit tray symbolize the “five virtues”: faith, perseverance, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. Therefore, the fruits displayed on the five-fruit tray during Tet also carry specific meanings:
-
Pomelo, watermelon: Round and plump, symbolizing abundance and good luck for the new year.
-
Persimmon, tangerine: Bright orange and red, symbolizing good fortune and success.
-
Pear: Sweet and smooth, implying that everything will go smoothly and favorably.
-
Pomegranate: Filled with seeds, expressing the wish for many children and a joyful family.
-
Peach: Represents career advancement.
-
Apricot: Implies that daughters will find happiness in marriage.
-
Apple (Malus domestica): Signifies wealth and honor.
-
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus): Suggests the meeting of “dragon and cloud”, an auspicious omen.
-
Chicken eggs shaped like a peach: Symbolizes heavenly blessings.
-
Coconut: In Southern Vietnam, the word for coconut sounds similar to “just enough,” conveying the wish for sufficiency.
-
Fig (Ficus carica): Expresses the desire for abundance in all aspects of life, such as health, work, and love.
-
Papaya (Carica papaya): Brings fulfillment and prosperity.
-
Mango: In the Southern dialect, the word for mango sounds like “to spend,” conveying the wish to spend freely throughout the year without shortage.
Five-Fruit Tray in Northern Vietnam
Five-fruit tray in Northern Vietnam
For the people of Northern Vietnam, a well-arranged five-fruit tray should include a variety of fruits such as green bananas, pomelos, Buddha’s hand fruit, figs, persimmons, tangerines, chilies, pineapples, etc., with vibrant yet harmonious colors, ensuring the balance of the Five Elements:
-
Metal – white
-
Wood – green
-
Water – black
-
Fire – red
-
Earth – yellow
Green bananas in the five-fruit tray are arranged in a bunch, symbolizing family reunion and warmth. Pomelos, with their golden color, represent wealth and good fortune.
Some families replace pomelos with Buddha’s hand fruit, as it is believed to keep the spirits and deities in the home longer to bless the household.
Persimmons, tangerines, and chilies with their bright red and orange colors are used to decorate the tray, symbolizing luck and success. Pineapples, with their distinctive fragrance, express the wish for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
In Northern Vietnam, the traditional way of arranging the five-fruit tray is to place the bunch of green bananas at the bottom to support the other fruits. The pomelo or Buddha’s hand fruit is placed in the center, with other fruits such as peaches, persimmons, tangerines, and apples arranged around it. Chilies and tangerines are then added to fill the empty spaces, creating a beautiful and harmonious composition.
Five-Fruit Tray in Central Vietnam
Five-fruit tray in Central Vietnam – simplicity and sincerity
Central Vietnam often experiences natural disasters, floods, and droughts, resulting in less fertile land and a limited variety of fruits. Therefore, the five-fruit tray in this region is usually simple and unpretentious, focusing on sincerity rather than formality.
Common fruits found in the five-fruit tray of Central Vietnam include:
-
Dragon fruit
-
Bananas
-
Watermelon
-
Custard apple (Annona reticulata)
-
Pineapple
-
Fig
-
Orange
-
Tangerine
Five-Fruit Tray in Southern Vietnam
Five-fruit tray in Southern Vietnam with the wish for “enough to spend”
In Southern Vietnam, the five-fruit tray is arranged with the aspiration for “Cầu sung vừa đủ xài” (literally, “praying for figs, just enough to spend”), corresponding to five types of fruits:
-
Custard apple
-
Fig
-
Coconut
-
Mango
Papaya
Additionally, people in Southern Vietnam avoid worshiping certain types of fruits with pronunciations that carry negative connotations, such as bananas (chuối, sounding similar to chúi nhủi, implying stagnation and lack of progress), pears (lê, sounding like lê lết, suggesting failure), oranges and tangerines (quýt làm, cam chịu, a Vietnamese idiom meaning “to take responsibility for someone else’s actions”).
The common way to arrange the five-fruit tray in Southern Vietnam is to place the heavier and larger fruits like custard apple, coconut, and mango on the tray first, using them as a base to support the other fruits. The remaining fruits are then arranged around them.
3Tips for Arranging a Beautiful and Auspicious Five-Fruit Tray
Arrangement 1
Ingredients
-
12 tangerines
-
5 mangoes
-
1 custard apple
-
1 Buddha’s hand fruit
-
1 dragon fruit
-
1 pear
-
1 apple
-
8 chilies
-
Tangerines (optional)
Instructions
Step 1First, place the tangerines inside the plate.
Step 2Then, on the rim of the plate, arrange the mangoes and tangerines alternately.
Step 3Next, place the dragon fruit in the center (above the tangerines), surrounded by the custard apple, Buddha’s hand fruit, apple, one tangerine, and pear to support the dragon fruit.
Step 4Finally, place the chilies between the mangoes and tangerines on the rim of the plate, and fill the empty spaces with tangerines if desired, creating an aesthetically pleasing composition.
A simple yet beautiful way to arrange the five-fruit tray
Final Product
Arrangement 2
Ingredients
-
14 tangerines
-
1 watermelon
-
1 pear
-
1 Buddha’s hand fruit
-
1 apple
-
4 mangoes
-
1 custard apple
-
10 chilies
-
Tangerines (optional)
Instructions
Step 1First, place the watermelon in the center of the plate, and arrange the tangerines along the rim.
Step 2To support the watermelon, place the Buddha’s hand fruit and pear on either side, with mangoes and tangerines in front and behind.
Step 3Then, add an apple and a custard apple on top of the watermelon.
Step 4Finally, arrange the chilies between the tangerines along the rim of the plate, filling the empty spaces as desired, to create a beautiful composition.
Final Product
