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Why are odd-numbered bananas more expensive than even-numbered bananas?

Banana is a familiar fruit with an offering of banana bunches on the altar. Single bananas are preferred by many people and also have a higher price than bunch bananas.

Administrator

25 October, 2023

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When buying bananas for offering, many people often encounter the situation that single bananas are more expensive than bunches of bananas. However, not everyone knows the reason why.

From ancient times to the present day, on Tet holidays or the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, Vietnamese families have the custom of worshipping their ancestors. And one of the familiar fruits in the offering tray is whole bunches of bananas.

According to folklore, single bananas are preferred by many people for worshiping. (Illustration photo)

However, not all bananas are chosen on the altar for worship. Bananas with uniform, beautiful, and green fruits are always given top priority.

Moreover, a bunch of bananas with an odd number of fruits will be chosen by many people for worship. Especially on Tet holidays, bunches of bananas with odd numbers such as 15, 17, 19, 21… will be priced from 200,000 VND (approx. 10 USD) or more at the markets. The more fruits and the odd number of fruits a bunch has, the more expensive it will be.

Now, not everyone knows why bunches of bananas with odd numbers of fruits are chosen by many people to buy and are much more expensive than usual.

Through research, according to feng shui, even numbers are negative, and odd numbers are positive. Furthermore, bananas are considered negative, so we need something positive. That’s why bunches of bananas with odd numbers of fruits are usually more expensive than bunches with even numbers of fruits.

In addition, due to the general mindset, many people prefer odd numbers. Odd numbers are symbolic of vitality, so when lighting incense or arranging flowers, odd numbers are chosen.

People often have the habit of lighting incense with odd numbers, such as lighting 3 incense sticks for worshipping Heaven, Earth, and Man, or 5 incense sticks for worshipping the five virtues of human beings: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith. The preference for odd numbers is because odd numbers represent life and vitality.

Similarly, bunches of bananas chosen for offering often have an odd number of fruits.

According to VTC News