In Vietnamese culture, hoa đào (peach blossom) and hoa mai (yellow mai) are far more than just pretty decorations during Tết - Vietnamese New Year. They are deeply rooted in geography, history and the literal unification of the country.
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The Northern Guardian
In the misty and temperate chill of Northern Vietnam, peach blossom reigns supreme. For northerner, spring hasn’t truly arrived until the delicate, blush-pink petals of peach blossom begin unfurl.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, peach blossom carries a profound spiritual value. In Vietnamese folklore, each peach tree acts as a spiritual shield, believed to have the potent to ward off malevolent spirits and ghosts. A branch of peach blossom is placed not just as an ornament during Tết, but also as a supernature fortification, with a hope of bringing good omens and luck to the homeowner.
The Southern Sun
Traverse thousands of kilometers to the southern region of Vietnam, there is shift from the pallet of pale pink to a bright, aggressive gold. Here, yellow mai is the undeniable superstar.
Mai’s five golden petals are synonymous with the ngũ phúc (five blessings): trường thọ (longevity), phú quý (wealth), khang ninh (health), hiếu đức (virtues), thiện chung (peace). A yellow mai blossom is seen as a divine green light for a year of financial and personal success.
The analog significance
Despite the 1600-kilometer stretch between these flowers’ natural habitats, they represent an unified Vietnamese philosophy: belief in the renewal. Whether it is the resilient yellow mai shedding its leaves to reveal colorful yellow petals or the branch of peach blossom waving its delicate flowers in the northern misty chill, both symbolizes the triumph over the winter of the past year.