THE TRADITION OF PRESENTING A FIVE-FRUIT TRAY ON TET IN VIETNAM

The five-fruit tray on Tet is one of the traditional cultural features of the Vietnamese people during the Lunar New Year. The five-fruit tray includes 5 different types of fruit with many bright colors, symbolizing the homeowner's wish for a good new year. Lunar new year in Vietnam

1. The tradition of presenting a five-fruit tray on Tet in Vietnam

What is the meaning of the five-fruit tray?

The meaning of the five-fruit tray on Tet is a typical cultural feature of Vietnam during the annual Tet holiday, expressing the wish for a prosperous, prosperous and lucky new year.
The five-fruit tray includes 5 different types of fruit. Depending on the region, the homeowner will choose a five-fruit tray suitable for the family. Displaying a five-fruit tray is one of the popular Tet decoration activities of Vietnamese people.
For Vietnamese people, the number 5 in the five-fruit tray also symbolizes the desire to receive "five blessings" - welcoming five blessings into the house:
Prosperity - prosperity, wealth, luxury
Longevity - long life, long life
Khang Ninh - healthy, peaceful, happy
Virtue - good conduct, benevolence, honesty
General good - luck, no unexpected disasters, no pain

The five-fruit tray on Tet is one of the traditional cultural features of the Vietnamese people ​

2. Things to know when presenting a five-fruit tray

To have a decent, full five-fruit tray, you need to note the following.
2.1. How to choose fruit for display

What does the five-fruit tray on Tet include? Depending on the region and locality, the homeowner will choose 5 types of fruit with 5 different colors to display on the ancestral altar or leave outside the reception room.
When choosing fruit to display on the five-fruit tray, you should choose fruits that are just ripe or ripe, choose firm fruits, have no scratches, and have green stems. To have a beautiful five-fruit tray, you should buy brightly colored and fresh fruits.

Choosing fruit to display on the five-fruit tray​

2.2. Taboos when arranging five-fruit tray on Tet

When displaying the five-fruit tray, you should note:
Southerners often abstain from offering apples, pears, bananas... because according to them these are fruits that are not good for their career.
Do not choose overripe fruits because they are easily damaged - a bad omen in the new year
You need to prepare a five-fruit tray before the night of Tet 30
Do not use fake fruit in the five-fruit tray

Do not use fake fruit in the five-fruit tray​

3. How to display the five-fruit tray on Tet in each region

Depending on each place, there will be different ways to decorate the five-fruit tray for Tet. You can refer to some of the layouts of the three regions below.
3.1. Five-fruit tray on Tet holiday in the North

Characteristics of the five-fruit tray of the North:

In the North, the five-fruit tray often follows the five elements in Eastern culture. The five-fruit tray according to feng shui will be coordinated in 5 colors: Metal - white, wood - green, water - black, fire - red, earth - yellow. Northern five-fruit trays often contain:
Green bananas, displayed in bunches, are a symbol of togetherness and togetherness
Yellow grapefruit - the symbol of prosperity, wealth, luck
Buddha's hand - a fruit with a gentle fragrance, preserving the Buddha's spirit
Ornamental kumquats and red peppers are decorated around, adding vibrant yellow and red colors
Pineapple with its passionate fragrance represents dreams for a peaceful and healthy new year...

How to display a five-fruit tray on Tet in the North:

In the five-fruit tray in the North, a bunch of green bananas - symbolizing green onions - are often placed at the bottom to support other fruits. A bunch of bananas is like a hand that supports and protects the homeowner.
Buddha's hand and yellow grapefruit - symbolizing the earth element are often placed in the middle of a bunch of bananas. The remaining fruits such as red peppers - symbolizing the fire element, peaches, pears - golden onions are arranged around the five-fruit tray so that they are harmonious and balanced. Northerners often abstain from using fruits that have sharp spines, smells, or rough stems because, according to the belief, they will bring bad luck to the homeowner.
The fruits displayed on the five-fruit tray will be selected in odd numbers, arranged interwoven and staggered together. Purchased fruit should not be washed with water, but should only be gently wiped to keep the fruit fresh for a long time.

Display a five-fruit tray on Tet in the North​

3.2. Five-fruit tray on Tet holiday in the Central region

Characteristics of the five-fruit tray of the Central region:
The Central region often experiences storms, floods, droughts and many natural disasters, so fruits are not as abundant as they are everywhere else. Therefore, the five-fruit tray on Tet in the Central region is often quite simple and is an interference between the North and South. These fruits are usually homegrown and can be eaten in any season, as long as the homeowner is sincere.
In the Central region, the five-fruit tray often contains:
Orange - symbolizes success
Coconut - means not lacking, banana - means protection, prosperity, support and connection
Mango - pray for moderate spending
Papaya - prosperity, fullness
Tangerine - brings success and success in the new year
Dragon fruit - implies dragon meeting clouds, pineapple, custard apple, fig, watermelon...
How to prepare a five-fruit tray for Tet in the Central region:
The decoration of the Central people is quite simple and not complicated. They will place large, heavy fruits at the bottom, and small fruits will be interwoven together to create perfect harmony.

The five-fruit tray of the Central region​

3.3. Five-fruit tray on Southern Tet holiday

Characteristics of the five-fruit tray of the South:

The Southern region is often very picky in eating and decorating five-fruit trays. Southern people are often meticulous when choosing fruits and avoid fruits with bad pronunciation such as pears (easy to fail), bananas (not good), tangerines (tangerines are doomed), apples - Southerners often call it a "bomb", durian - this fruit has a name with a rather sad meaning...
Southerners pay little attention to color but often choose fruit based on pronunciation. According to historian Dr. Han Nguyen Nguyen Nha, the five-fruit tray in the Southern region will include fruits corresponding to the pronunciation "just enough for consumption" and can add pineapple to express sustainability and desire. The house is full of children and grandchildren.
Wishing for a prosperous year, Southerners will decorate the five-fruit tray on Tet with coconut, papaya, and mango with familiar fruits such as:
Custard apple - wish good things
Fig - desire for prosperity
Coconut - has a sound similar to “just” with the meaning of not lacking
Papaya - brings prosperity and fullness
Mango - has the na na sound like "spend" with the meaning of spending the whole year without lacking
In particular, the five-fruit tray of the South often includes a pair of watermelons - symbolizing fullness and completeness

Southerners will decorate the five-fruit tray on Tet with coconut, papaya, and mango with familiar fruits ​

How to make a five-fruit tray for Tet in the South:

Southerners often arrange heavy, large, green fruits at the bottom. Above are small, ripe fruits alternating. In particular, they often decorate the five-fruit tray like a tower. On both sides of the five-fruit tray are a pair of beautiful watermelons.
Tet is also a time for families to gather, have time to rest and gather together. Families can travel for a change during Tet and enjoy meaningful moments of connection and reunion. Located in the most beautiful beach paradise in Vietnam, Vietcruise promises to bring you and your loved ones an exciting dream vacation at the beginning of the year.
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