Buzz
1. Understanding the Tradition of Harvesting Luck at the Start of the Year
Lunar New Year, the most significant traditional festival for the Vietnamese, marks the transition between the old and the new year, symbolizing the cyclical operation of all things, land, and sky. During Tet, numerous customs and traditions are observed to ensure a prosperous, healthy, lucky, and financially successful year. One such custom is the tradition of harvesting luck at the beginning of the year, usually during the New Year's Eve or the morning of the first day of Tet. Many families go out to harvest luck and visit temples to seek blessings and prosperity for themselves and their families.
Accordingly, harvesting luck involves picking branches and leaves, bringing them home to invoke good fortune and dispel the misfortunes of the previous year.
The trees chosen for the tradition are typically evergreen, symbolizing the sprouting of luck, vitality, luck, peace, and prosperity into the home, such as small banyan branches, silk tree branches, and more.
As a result, the tradition of harvesting luck has gradually become one of the beautiful cultural traditions of the Vietnamese people, still being passed down and practiced to this day.
The Origin and Meaning of the Tradition of Harvesting Luck at the Beginning of the Year in Vietnamese Culture
The Origin of the Tradition of Harvesting Luck at the Beginning of the Year
Legend has it that on the first day of spring, when the children had grown, King Hung invited the Lac Ha, Lac Tuong, divine beings, and his children to instruct them: 'Now that you have grown up, I want you to teach the people to work and govern the places.'
Hearing the father's proclamation, the children were reluctant to part and wanted to stay with their parents. The Lac Ha, Lac Tuong, and villagers didn't know how to address the King. The Queen then said: 'The children all love their mother, and the father doesn't want to go far. I suggest that the King should perform a ceremony for the heavens and the earth and then use the method of harvesting luck to distribute to the children... each child who receives a luck branch will go in that direction.'
Having heard this, the King ordered the Lac Ha, Lac Tuong, and his children to rest at home. Then, choosing an auspicious day, the King performed a ceremony for the heavens and the earth on the peak of Nghia Linh mountain, praying for favorable weather and abundance for the people. When the time came on New Year's Eve, the King and the Queen went into the forest to harvest luck at the beginning of spring. Early in the morning, when the sun appeared in the East, the King and his children distributed a luck branch to each person and instructed:
“The young stay at home, the old go to the hamlet
'Up to the mountains for even, down to the seas for odd'
'Children, take these branches to safeguard the teachings of livelihood on your journey. If anything unfortunate happens, wave these dew-kissed branches to the sky. Beasts and malevolent spirits will flee, unable to harm you. By the royal decree, kneel and receive these lucky branches. Divide them among yourselves to guard different regions. The King joyfully announces a celebration for the departure of the youth.'
'Through millennia, this beauty persists, the custom of seeking luck at the beginning of the year remains ingrained, especially in the ancient capital, Van Lang. Alongside various traditions, seeking luck has become familiar, weaving into the Tet cultural fabric of Vietnamese life.'
Meaning
'The tradition of harvesting luck at the beginning of the year is a cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people. This custom symbolizes the request for a bit of divine luck to have a year of prosperity, fortune, and peace. Alongside that is the wish for a new year filled with goodness, dispelling the misfortunes of the past year.'
'3. How to harvest luck at the beginning of the year for more luck and prosperity'
Selecting Luck to Harvest
In reality, the tradition of harvesting luck at the beginning of the year has undergone various distortions, tarnishing its sacred meaning. Instead of seeking small branches at temples, many people compete to cut large branches or even uproot young trees. To ensure the true significance of luck harvesting and preserve the environmental landscape, individuals should harvest small branches in places with abundant positive energy: temples, gardens, etc. Avoid cutting trees, removing leaves, or uprooting them, as it brings unfavorable outcomes.
Therefore, to harvest luck with the right meaning without compromising the environmental aesthetics, individuals should choose to harvest small branches in places with abundant positive energy, such as temples and gardens. It's advisable not to cut down trees, pluck leaves, or uproot them, as these actions may bring about unfortunate consequences.
Heart of the Luck Harvester
The essence of luck harvesting lies in the heart of the harvester. Those with benevolent and optimistic hearts will find that even harvesting small branches brings blessings, luck, and peace to their homes without the need for large branches.
As luck is often harvested during the transition to the new year, one should also be mindful to avoid choosing withered or thorny branches. Such choices may carry negative energy into one's home and family.
In this article, Mytour shares insights into the origin and significance of the tradition of harvesting luck at the beginning of the year, along with tips on how to do it for maximum fortune. Thank you for following our post.
