Mâm ngũ quả

FIVE-FRUIT TRAY FOR TET IN VIETNAM

photo source: btaskee.com

    It can be said that the five-fruit tray or Mâm Ngũ Quả is a must-have on the altar in every family during Tet. People can select the fruits through time, region as well as the house owner's preference. But it assures to be of a difference colour as the five-fruit tray. The decoration of the five-fruit tray also plays an important role for Tet.

    Usually, the fruits on the tray of each region are various. 

    In the Northern of Việt Nam, there are five colours (based on five elements: (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth or: Kim, Mộc, Thủy, Hỏa, Thổ) White-pear, Green-banana, Black-grape, Red-watermelon, Yellow-pomelo, the "Buddha's hand" fruit.

    Meanwhile in the Central, people often offer: Dragon fruit, banana, custard-apple, orange, pineapple

    And in the Southern of Việt Nam, they use custard-apple, fig, coconut, papaya, orange.

    According to Vietnamese's tradition, around the 28th, 29th of the last Lunar month, after cleaning the altar, families begin to display the five-fruit tray in the most beautiful and exquisite, not only hoping for a lucky coming year but also paying respects to their ancestors.

Written by: Springclover