On the occasion of the full moon in the lunar calendar, besides the delicious cakes, delicious flexible cakes, colorful fruit tray is also an indispensable part of the ancestor’s offerings. Depending on the culture and customs of each region, the five -tray tray in the North – Central – South has a difference, both with a local identity, and sending its own meanings.
Traditionally, the five fruits symbolize the five elements: Kim – Moc – Thuy – Fire – Earth. Five fruits with five different colors are cleverly presented to pray for the family lucky, prosperous and reunited.
Not only is the offering offerings to ancestors, the Mid -Autumn Festival tray is also associated with the childhood memories of many generations. Children are eagerly beside the carp lantern, lion dance bustling, while adults prepare a full tray with fruits, confectionery, and fresh flowers. All create the atmosphere of union members, warmly typical of the full moon night in August.
The way to display the five fruits has no rigid rules. Each region, each family can flexibly choose fruits to suit their own economic conditions, customs and interests.
The tray of the five fruits in the North
The Northern people often display the five fruits with bananas, grapefruit, persimmons, peaches and tangerines, fruits that are both easy to find in the fall and contain many meanings.
- Banana: The symbol of protection, proliferation, flourishing, bringing a prosperous life.
- Grapefruit: symbolizes luck, round, union members.
- Hong: Bring good things, luck in life.
- Dao: Show health, longevity.
- Tangerine: indicates wealth, affluence.
In the layout, bananas are usually placed in the center, supporting other fruits above, such as bracelets to cover the whole family. Some families also replace grapefruit with Buddha, the fruit bearing the shape of the Buddha’s hand, symbolizing the protection and peace.
Mid -Autumn Festival tray with full of dishes, decorated sophisticatedly. (Photo: Thu Huong Vu)
Mid -Autumn Five Fruit tray in the Central region
The harsh climate, often suffered from floods, causing fruits in the Central region to not be as rich as the other two regions. However, it is that creating a simplicity and simplicity in the way of displaying the five fruits here.
Central people do not follow any fixed rules. They choose delicious fresh fruits such as papaya, mango, custard, fig, banana … large and heavy fruits are placed below; Small, light fruits are arranged on top, both sure and balanced.
Although not picky, each fruit still has a good meaning:
- Papaya: symbolizes fullness and affluence.
- Bananas: symbolize the proliferation, the life of prosperity and peace.
- Sung: Expressing the desire to be affluent, lucky.
The simplicity in the layout of the five fruits of the Central people clearly shows the spiritual and sincere spirit. Although the tray is not too picky but still solemn, sending all the respect for their ancestors and wishing to peace to the family.
Mid -Autumn tray is trimmed beautifully. (Photo: Cao Thanh Thuy)
The tray of the five fruits in the South
The Southern people have a different way of displaying the five fruits compared to the North and Central. Do not use bananas as the dominant fruit, the southern tray often revolves around familiar fruits such as custard, figs, coconut, papaya, mango.
People believe that this combination evokes the wishes of “praying just enough to use”, implying the desire for a prosperous and full life. In addition, the tray of southern fruits also has red watermelon or green grapefruit placed in the center. The three pineapple fruits are often used as a base, both firmly and meaningful to pray for the children and grandchildren.
The display is also quite typical, the large and heavy fruits are placed at the bottom, stacking as the tower. Two red watermelon pods are usually placed on both sides to create a balance and add luck.
This difference not only reflects the customs but also shows the creativity of the South in sending prosperity and prosperity of the five fruits.
The tray of the five fruits is simply presented. (Photo: Do Minh Phuong)
Note when displaying the five tray of moon fruits
Nowadays, the five -night tray of Mid -Autumn Festival is increasingly creative, while keeping the tradition and adding new with all kinds of colorful fruits and cakes. The skillful hands also trimmed fruits into a funny shape like a dog from a grapefruit, a fish with a dragon or a small bear from a bunch of grapes.
Regardless of the region, when preparing the five -tray tray, people often pay attention to the following points:
– Choose bananas: Choose medium green bananas, smooth skin, slightly curved figure, with 12 – 16 fruits, avoiding dark spots.
– Choose fresh fruits, no waterlogging, retaining natural colors.
– Fruit hygiene: Do not wash fruit before worship to avoid fast damage, should only wipe away dust with soft towels.
Despite the difference in choosing and displaying, the Five Mid -Autumn Five Fruits in all three regions have the same meaning: showing respect for their ancestors and wishing for the happy and full family.
The image of the five colors full of colorful fruits, next to the moon cake, lanterns and young laughter, has become a symbol of union members. Through each generation, the fruit tray is not only a offering offering but also a beautiful memory, preserving Vietnamese culture in the full moon night of August.
