Peach blossoms have long been a familiar flower during Tet due to their vibrant colors and special significance. Let’s explore the meaning of peach blossoms in the traditional Tet celebration.
During Tet, with their beautiful appearance, bright colors, lush green leaves, and blossoming only in the spring during the traditional Lunar New Year, peach blossoms are chosen by many as a symbol for the new year. People hope to bring luck, prosperity, and abundance for the whole year.
1/ Origin of Peach Blossoms:
According to Professor Gary Crawford and two colleagues at the University of Toronto (Canada), peach trees originated approximately 7,500 years ago and have been domesticated and grafted by humans, becoming a plant with positive symbolism for human life.
Peach blossoms during Tet were first known in the Persian region and later cultivated and spread in various countries such as Mongolia, Laos, China, becoming an iconic symbol of Tet.
2/ Meaning of Peach Blossoms in Traditional Tet:
Peach blossoms are not just decorative flowers during Tet; behind their fragrance lies layered symbolism passed down through generations.
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- Essence of Five Elements: The gentle and fresh color of peach blossoms is considered the essence of the five elements, capable of dispelling evil spirits, misfortune, and bringing peace and happiness for the new year.
- Symbol of Growth and Blossoming: The lush and delicate appearance, along with the symbolism of growth and blossoming, instills hope for a good life, anticipating luck and a favorable path in the new year.
- Representation of Harmony and Unity: Peach blossoms also evoke thoughts of bonds and loyalty, as depicted by the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei in the peach garden, where they swore brotherhood and pledged to live and die together.
Symbol of Prosperity: The pink color is considered lucky, bringing warmth to every home, sowing joy, love, and hope for a beautiful new year with prosperity, happiness, peace, and warmth.
3/ Most Beloved Types of Tet Peach Blossoms:
- Fading Peach Blossoms: With its gentle pink color, delicacy, and elegance, fading peach blossoms attract attention and are one of the preferred types during Tet for their impressive qualities.
- Blossom Peach: Known for its deep pink, glamorous, and captivating color, Blossom Peach leaves a lasting impression, often chosen for decoration during Tet or as an offering on ancestral altars due to its impressive hue.
- White Peach Blossoms: White peach blossoms are rare, symbolizing purity and elegance with their pristine white petals intricately arranged, creating a sophisticated and luxurious appearance.
- Seven-Blossom Peach: A rare and precious peach variety historically reserved for the king, each branch of the Seven-Blossom Peach bears only seven bright red flowers, creating an attractive and captivating display.
- Dalat Pink Peach: Also known as “long-haired” or “myriad-bristle” peach, this hybrid peach is grafted from the wild peach trees of Da Lat and various other peach varieties. With double blossoms, it lasts longer and carries a distinctive fragrance.
- Stone Peach: Growing mainly in deep forests, Stone Peach has a unique shape due to parasitic plants, featuring five single petals that are aesthetically pleasing, although fewer in number compared to blossom or fading peach varieties.