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Chrysanthemum (Vietnamese
name: cúc đại-đóa; botanical name:
Asteraceae with incurve flowerhead) flowers in
jardinières: The cheerful, bright yellow color of the blossoms is
appropriate for the occasion.
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Flowering peach (Vietnamese
name: đào; botanical name:
Prunus persica) branches in tall vases:
Auspicious colors of red or pink are preferred for the flowers.
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Five-fruit (Vietnamese name: ngũ quả)
suite* to represent the new year wish in a charger.
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Dehydrated and candied fruits (lotus seeds,
coconuts, etc.) bring sweetness and are presented in containers of red and gold
colors for good luck.
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Liquor to induce effervescent, fortuitous spirits.
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Incense to generate a fragrant, welcoming ambiance.
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Rush or bamboo leaves wrapped, square
shaped, celadon green colored, mung bean and/or pork centered, glutinous rice
cake** (Vietnamese name: bánh chưng) to represent the earth.
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Narcissus
flower (Vietnamese name:
hoa Thủy-Tiên;
botanical name: Narcissus jonquilla) arrangement is traditional.
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Jasmine tea box, decorated in the red and gold colors of good
fortune.
* For the five-fruit suite, we used the
fragrant tangerines, bananas, custard apple, fingered citron or "Buddha's Hand"
fruit (phật thủ), and grapefruit
although southern Vietnamese tradition includes custard apple (măng cầu),
coconut (dừa), papaya (đu đủ), and mango (xoài) because the names of those
fruits sounds like a wish for having just enough for consumption in
Vietnamese: "Cầu vừa đủ xài"
Please note the anti-extravagance essence
of the wish. It epitomizes the Vietnamese's philosophy that nothing, other
than charity or kindness, excessive would contribute to happiness: Not wealth,
not power, nor even
knowledge!
** This cake is traditionally accompanied by
a round shaped, porcelain white colored, glutinous rice cake (Vietnamese name: bánh dày) to represent the sun or heaven. According to legends,
an ancient Vietnamese king had a contest among his many sons to choose the
successor to his throne. The winner of this contest would be the one to
bring him the most special and meaningful food for the new year celebration.
The youngest and poorest son, Lang Liêu, was the surprising winner with his
invention of the square, green Earth cake and round, white Heaven cake. So
pleased, the king decreed that all his citizens make these Heaven and Earth
cakes every new year, and that has become Vietnamese tradition since.
