VI
EN
The five-fruit tray consists of five different types of fruit, each symbolizing a wish of the homeowner through its name and color. Therefore, if you want a year that fulfills your wishes, you also need to understand the meaning of each type of fruit.
The word "five" in the five-fruit offering also represents the Vietnamese people's wish to achieve five blessings: happiness, nobility, longevity, health, and peace. However, depending on the region, with its unique climate, produce, and beliefs, people choose different types of fruit to arrange on the five-fruit offering.
Bananas symbolize family reunion, warmth, and good fortune, protection, and care. The Buddha's hand fruit represents the Buddha's hand protecting the entire family. Grapefruit signifies wishes for peace and prosperity. Pears or cantaloupes represent a wish for success and advancement. Oranges and tangerines also symbolize success. Pears, with their sweet and refreshing taste, imply smooth sailing in all endeavors. Pomegranates, with their many seeds, symbolize a large family. Peaches represent advancement. Apples are associated with wealth and prosperity. Dragon fruit, with its image of dragons and clouds converging, represents good fortune and wealth. Watermelons, with their round, refreshing shape, promise sweetness and good luck. The egg-shaped fruit (Le ki ma) is a gift from heaven. Figs symbolize abundance, health, and money. Papaya signifies prosperity and fullness. Mangoes (pronounced similarly to "spend") represent a wish for no shortage of money.
Northern Vietnamese five-fruit platter
In Northern Vietnam, people arrange the five-fruit tray according to the Five Elements theory in Eastern culture – meaning that all things harmonize with heaven and earth. Therefore, the five-fruit tray must also be coordinated according to five colors: Metal (white), Wood (green), Water (black), Fire (red), and Earth (yellow). The arrangement and color of each type of fruit are interspersed to create an aesthetically pleasing and auspicious display for Tet (Lunar New Year). While the quantity isn't strictly regulated, everyone prepares a sufficient offering, with a variety of fruits that align with their symbolic meanings. The five-fruit tray in Northern Vietnam typically includes five types: bananas, pomelos, peaches, persimmons, and tangerines.
Central Vietnamese five-fruit platter
Central Vietnam is located in an area with barren land and a harsh climate, resulting in a scarcity of fruit, so the people there are not overly concerned with formalities. The five-fruit offering for Tet (Lunar New Year) is mainly based on what they have available, offered sincerely to their ancestors. Therefore, each family's five-fruit offering varies; any fruit will do, as long as it's fresh and delicious. Common fruits include: dragon fruit, bananas, watermelon, custard apple, pineapple, figs, oranges, and tangerines…
Southern Vietnamese five-fruit platter
In Southern Vietnam, people arrange a five-fruit platter according to the wish "May there be enough to spend," hoping for a prosperous and abundant new year, corresponding to five fruits: custard apple, fig, coconut, papaya, and mango. In addition, they often include pineapple, symbolizing a large family with many children, and a pair of watermelons (green rind, red flesh) for good luck. The five-fruit platter of Southern Vietnamese people clearly reflects their simplicity, rustic charm, and humor. Everyone has different lives and desires; knowing what "enough" means, everyone only needs enough.
