In Vietnamese culinary culture, there are also conceptions and beliefs about food that bring good luck to those who enjoy it. However, it does not stop at the meaning of unlucky dishes, with the philosophy that Vietnamese people have raised those dishes into cultural values, creating a unique feature for national cuisine.
Not only Vietnamese people, many different countries in the spiritual world also exist the concept of lucky food such as dumpling is a lucky dish of China, kimchi gives Koreans auspicious and joy, fish is an indispensable food in Japanese cuisine because they consider it an intelligent animal that brings dynamism and insight throughout the year ... However, to the Vietnamese people, that concept seems to come out. Present in all regions and bring different traits in each holiday, New Year.
Spring-spring dish
The belief in lucky food is most clearly shown on the occasions of Tet, when people hope in a prosperous new year, therefore, the spring food must have a profound meaning of luck. It is a cake of green rice cake to express ancestral respect, pray for the blessing of the ancestors for the good new year, a dish of Gac sticky rice with lucky colors, a tray of five fruits. "Bridge, coconut, enough, mango, figs "With the meaning of" Just enough to spend, affluent ", is a pair of red watermelon indispensable on the altar altar that according to the concept of our fathers the" sand "in the melon is similar to the word" sand " "In Chinese means good ...
On the first days of the new year, especially on the morning of the New Year, people only invite each other food that is supposed to bring good luck. They can be bright colors such as red symbolizing good luck, yellow color represents wealth, or dishes with lucky meanings such as bitter melon of the South ... On the contrary, in order to add a sense of luck to the dish and the wish "Wish to be wished", people also avoid "unlucky" foods such as black dishes or conceptual items that are often associated with absolute bad luck. Do not eat squid, dog meat, black bean sticky rice at the beginning of the year ...
Indispensable on important occasions
Not only on New Year, on important occasions such as weddings, exams ... the concept of lucky food is also quite common.
In the wedding of Vietnamese people, whether luxurious or rich, whether in urban or rural areas, it is indispensable for the crimson betel leaf adhered to the strong lime symbolizing the affection of the husband and wife. In that sense, Vietnamese people believe that betel nut pieces will bring good luck and nurture the happiness for a hundred years of stability. Besides, sticky rice Gac is also a dish that has never been absent in the wedding of Vietnamese people.
Examinations are also important events in human life, so there is no reason on this occasion lucky dishes are not popular. It is true that, according to the concept of our people for generations, going to the exam should only eat lucky foods like eating beans that are determined to be red beans, gac sticky rice; strictly forbidding to eat foods with black-ink such as squid, dog meat, duck eggs, even eating chicken eggs only eat yolk ... It sounds ridiculous, but with the beliefs and philosophies of the Vietnamese people Believing that "abstinence, goodness", these lucky foods have brought more confidence so that they can face all problems of life.
And the whole day
When there is faith, that belief follows the Vietnamese in every situation, anytime, anywhere. Because before the reality of life, people always dream and aspire to do it. The lucky food gives them hope and faith to realize their dreams. Therefore, not only for holidays, New Year or to wait for important occasions, but even in daily life, the dishes that bring good things are always present.
First, it is the habit of "solving black" at the end of the month with dog meat. Vietnamese people abstain from eating dog meat on the first day of the year and the beginning of the month, but they believe that eating dog meat in the last days of the year and the end of the month can ward off bad luck and "wash away" risks to step in. lucky new year. By the beginning of the month, people often eat food such as blood pudding with the color of blood, hoping the whole month will have many good signs.
That being said, the belief in lucky food does not stop at lucky dishes but also those that help dispel the limits and risks. Considering a certain aspect, the fact that Vietnamese people go to the night often brings with themselves garlic cloves, strawberry branches are also from that philosophy. They believe that the clove of garlic will help them dispel the evil, the evil, and all the evil in the night, and quickly go to the light to receive the good.
Through lucky dishes and simple philosophies that are mostly derived from beliefs, hopes, we seem to realize many things, more and more understand the rich spiritual life of Vietnamese people. The belief in lucky food as an intangible traditional value not only reflects the beauty of culinary culture in particular, but it is also a mystery about Vietnamese culture in general.
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