The "Hidden" Meaning Behind the Five-Fruit Tray on Mid-Autumn Festival

07/07/2023

The five-fruit tray is considered one of the important traditional customs during the Mid-Autumn Festival, considered a symbol of reunion and happiness. The five-fruit tray includes five different types of fruit, each with its own meaning, symbolizing the five basic elements of the universe: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. Through the arrangement and decoration of the five-fruit tray, Vietnamese people want to convey messages of respect and honor for their ancestors. As well as the wish for their family to have a fulfilling and prosperous life. In this article, we will learn more about the meaning and how to prepare the five-fruit tray to have a more complete and meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival!

What is on the fruit tray during the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The five-fruit tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important traditional part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is considered a symbol of family reunion and happiness. In East Asian countries, people often prepare a five-fruit tray and place it on the altar to pray for health, wealth and peace for the family.

The Mid-Autumn Festival tray of five gifts is considered a symbol of family reunion and happiness.
The Mid-Autumn Festival tray of five gifts is considered a symbol of family reunion and happiness.

In addition to its spiritual significance, the five-fruit tray also contributes to creating a joyful, happy and warm atmosphere during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Many families also organize activities such as cutting moon cakes and lighting lanterns. At the same time, playing folk games and enjoying the five-fruit tray together is indispensable. In the five-fruit tray, each type of fruit has a different meaning and idea, symbolizing important values in life. For example, peaches are often considered a symbol of maturity and luck. While apples symbolize love and romance.

5 types of fruit that are "easy to find" on the five-fruit tray

The Mid-Autumn Festival fruit tray is also a typical cultural product of East Asian countries. It has been passed down through many generations and has become an indispensable part of the cultural life of people in this region.

Depending on the region and country, the fruits in the five-fruit tray may vary. However, the most common include:

Peach Symbolizes wealth, luck and maturity.
Pear Represents unity, happiness and family.
Almond Celebrate intelligence, wisdom and quick wit.
Apricot Bring the homeowner good health, longevity and prosperity.
Apple Symbolizes love, affection and romance.

In addition, the fruit tray can also be supplemented with other fruits such as oranges, tangerines, cashew, chestnuts, jams, candies and other sweets depending on taste and region.

How to choose fruit for the fruit tray on the day Mid-Autumn Festival

Choosing the right fruits is very important to have a beautiful and meaningful fruit tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival. To choose the best fruits, you should pay attention to factors such as freshness, beautiful shape and suitability with the meaning that the fruit tray wants to convey. You should choose seasonal fruits to ensure they are fresh and reasonably priced. In addition, you also need to pay attention to the quantity to ensure a full range of fruits and avoid waste. All of the above notes will help you choose the right fruits and create a beautiful and meaningful fruit tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Choosing the right fruits is very important to have a beautiful and meaningful fruit tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Choosing the right fruits is very important to have a beautiful and meaningful fruit tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

What are some beautiful and meaningful ways to arrange a fruit tray?

  • Arrange the fruit tray in a circle: This is the most popular and beautiful arrangement. Fruits are arranged in a circle, symbolizing fullness, reunion and wealth.
  • Arrange the fruit tray in a rectangular or triangular shape: This is a unique way of arranging and creates a new look for the fruit tray. Arranging fruit in a rectangular or triangular shape symbolizes luck and prosperity.
  • Use colorful fruits: In addition to traditional fruits such as peaches, plums, tangerines, longans and coconuts. You can add other fruits such as apples, mangoes, papayas, kiwis, grapes, etc. to the fruit tray to create a more diverse and bright fruit tray.
  • Combine with fresh flowers: You can add some fresh flowers to the fruit tray to make it more beautiful and fresh. Chrysanthemums, roses, lilies and peach blossoms are suitable choices.
  • Add decorative items: You can add decorative items such as lanterns, moon cakes, and traditional toys to the fruit tray. The purpose is to create a colorful and joyful space.

The above arrangements all create a beautiful and meaningful fruit tray. However, the most important thing is the meaning that the fruit tray brings to family and relatives during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The meaning of the fruit tray in the Mid-Autumn Festival

In each region of Vietnam, fruits have different characteristics and carry their own distinct meanings.
In each region of Vietnam, fruits have different characteristics and carry their own distinct meanings.

The five-fruit tray has a general meaning of symbolizing reunion, happiness, success and respect for the traditional culture of the nation. However, in each region of Vietnam, the five-fruit tray is different and has its own meaning.

Northern Vietnamese fruit tray on Children's Day: prosperity and well-being

In the North, the five-fruit tray includes bananas, grapefruit, peaches, persimmons, and tangerines. Northerners often place a bunch of bananas in the middle to support all the other fruits, and bananas represent the protection of heaven and earth for people. Grapefruit, peaches, persimmons, and tangerines are placed in the middle of the banana bunch and can be replaced with Buddha's hand fruit. The missing areas on the five-fruit tray will be interspersed with yellow tangerines, green apples, or red peppers. The fruits chosen are often of various colors, but the purpose is still to pray for wealth, prosperity, and warmth.

Mid-Autumn Festival fruit tray in Central Vietnam: simple and familiar

In the Central region, the five-fruit tray usually includes mango, coconut, jackfruit, lychee, and durian. Mango is placed in the middle of the tray and symbolizes success, jackfruit and coconut represent stability and sustainability, lychee and durian symbolize luck and prosperity.

Southern fruit tray: Stable and sustainable

In short, the five-fruit tray symbolizes reunion, happiness, success and respect for the traditional culture of the nation.
In short, the five-fruit tray symbolizes reunion, happiness, success and respect for the traditional culture of the nation.

In the South, the five-fruit tray usually includes mango, coconut, mangosteen, lychee, and durian. Mango is placed in the middle of the tray and symbolizes success, coconut and mangosteen represent stability and sustainability, lychee and durian symbolize luck and prosperity.

It must be said that the five-fruit tray in each region of Vietnam has its own meaning and is arranged with different types of fruits. However, in general, the five-fruit tray symbolizes reunion, happiness, success and a sense of respect for the traditional culture of the nation.

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summary

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional holiday of the Vietnamese people, and the five-fruit tray is an indispensable part of this holiday. The five-fruit tray not only has spiritual significance but is also a part of the traditional cultural beauty of our nation. To have a beautiful and meaningful five-fruit tray, the fruits need to be carefully selected and arranged properly.

If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of reunion and immerse yourself in the Mid-Autumn Festival, invite your family and friends to Pasta Fresca Saigon and enjoy delicious and unique dishes. With a cozy space and the wonderful flavors of Italian dishes, Pasta Fresca Saigon will be the ideal destination for your warm Tet parties.

Please visit Pasta Fresca Saigon and enjoy delicious food and the family atmosphere during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Surely, it will be a wonderful experience that you will never forget!

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