New year holiday or Tet Nguyen Dan in Viet Nam is coming round the corner. Different from almost all other countries all over the world, new year holiday in Viet Nam takes place in the first month of the lunar calendar - from late January to early February. Square sticky rice cake and round sticky rice cake which are “must-have” items in Tet Nguyen Dan are considered to be traditional food in Viet Nam. Not only are they delicious but they also have special meanings Both of them stand for family reunion and for the love parents give their children. Besides, they symbolize the desire for a peaceful life with happiness and show the gratitude to forefathers.
On this blog, I want to tell you about the legend of square sticky rice cakes and round sticky rice cakes.
round sticky rice cake
Once upon a time, there was a king called 6th King Hung Vuong . When the King grew old, he intended to hand over his throne to one prince. However, it was very hard because he had 18 princes in total.
At the end of year, the King wanted his sons to bring their precious things to worship the ancestors.The 17 elder princes went to any lengths to find everything with their desire for coming the throne.
Meanwhile, the 18th son of King Hung Vuong called Lang Lieu was completely worried about his duty. He lived alone and worked as a farmer. He didn’t know what to offer to his father.One night, He dreamed of meeting a fair. The fair said that:
- Lang Lieu, in this universe, nothing is more precious than rice because it feeds man. You should use rice to make cakes. Sticky rice cake which is square-shape stands for the heaven we live under and round sticky rice cake which is circular-shape stands for the earth we live on .
When Lang Lieu awoke, he was very happy. At once, He decided to make cakes according to the fair.
On the first day in Spring, all princes brought along their presents to their father. King Hung Vuong was surperised at Lang Lieu’s cakes. He tried and asked Lang Lieu how to make them. The prince told The King his dream and the meaning of these cakes. This made King Hung Vuong very pleased . Finally, he announced to the resident to demise his throne for Lang Lieu.
Vietnamese people always say that :
“Rich meats, salty onions, red couplets
Nêu tree, firecracker, green sticky rice cake”
Together with peach blossom, ochna, Square sticky rice cake and round sticky rice cake are indispensable at Tet festival.The smell of rice was originally attractive. They are special food to the ancestors and also are gifts for relatives or friends. Traditionally, all members in a family make cakes together. In New year’s eve, they eat these cakes and hope for a better upcoming year without troubles.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét