Cultural life

Why do people in the North choose peach blossoms, while people in the South display apricot blossoms during Tet?

LA (synthesis) January 27, 2025 08:41

Every Tet holiday, peach blossoms and apricot blossoms are indispensable in Vietnamese families. But why do people in the North choose peach blossoms, while people in the South display apricot blossoms during Tet?

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Northerners often choose peach blossoms to play during Tet.
Weather, climate
According to the book "100 things to know about Vietnamese customs", displaying apricot blossoms during Tet is considered a custom of the Southern people. Meanwhile, the Northern people prefer peach blossoms. However, not everyone knows that the main reason for this custom is due to the weather, climate and different concepts of the two regions.
Apricot trees are easy to grow and care for, and can grow in pots or in the ground. They prefer moist soil and light but cannot withstand waterlogging. Apricot trees grow well at temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius or higher, suitable for the end-of-year weather in the South and South Central regions, while the Tet atmosphere in the North often has a temperature of only about 20 degrees Celsius.
On the contrary, peach trees only like cold air like the North, it is very difficult to bloom if planted in hot places. In addition, in the past, the service of transporting fresh flowers from North to South was not developed, so people prioritized choosing trees suitable for the local weather to display and admire during Tet, gradually forming the unique customs of each region.
Customs and habits
Apricot blossom is one of the four noble flowers: pine, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and apricot blossom and often appears in poetry and art. According to the concept of Southern people, yellow apricot blossom symbolizes the earth element - the center of the five elements, and is the same color as money tree, representing nobility and wealth.
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For Southern people, apricot blossom is a symbol of luck and abundance.
Not only that, the apricot tree has roots that go deep into the ground and do not collapse in the wind or storm. Therefore, the apricot tree also symbolizes the virtues of patience, sacrifice, and perseverance of the Vietnamese people in general.
For these reasons, every Tet holiday, Southern people often choose to display yellow apricot flowers with the hope of bringing good luck and wishing for a complete and peaceful new year.
The fresh beauty and color of peach blossoms have long been considered the quintessence of the five elements of heaven and earth. The meaning of peach blossoms in feng shui is that it can help ward off evil spirits and bad luck, thereby bringing people a peaceful and happy new year.
According to the concept of Northern people, peach blossoms repel all evil spirits, so it is easy to see that many houses often plant peach blossoms in front of their doors not only during Tet and spring.
In particular, peach blossoms also symbolize the beauty of Northern girls, somewhat shy but extremely graceful and gentle.
For these reasons, Northerners will choose peach blossoms with the wish for a lucky, peaceful and prosperous new year.
LA (synthesis)
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Why do people in the North choose peach blossoms, while people in the South display apricot blossoms during Tet?