Photo: Eva.vn

It is interesting to see those Neu trees made of high steel poles with illuminating neon lights covered during Tet in the modern days, but do you know that the traditional version would require a fresh bamboo tree and many implications dated back thousands of years ago? Let’s find out in this article! 

Building Cay Neu in front of families’ houses is one of the Vietnamese customs when the Tet Holidays roll around. It is a tradition of expelling evils and wishing for good luck and prosperity in the New Year but has now been lost and less popular, especially in urban areas. 

Legend has it said humans in the past were oppressed by devils as the devils overly profited and invaded their land. The Buddha heard the tears of the humans and aided them in their battle against the devils. After being forced into the sea, the devils pleaded for the Buddha's compassion in order to return to the mainland and pay respects to their ancestors' burial sites for a few days each year. From then on, they only can come back during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. To protect the humans around that time, the Buddha taught them to erect Cay Neu to deter the devils from entering the houses.

Photo: Thanh Phuc

Cay Neu in Vietnamese Lunar New Year also has another deep meaning. Due to the temporary leave of Kitchen Gods (Tao Quan) from the Lunar December 23, the folk are scared that the devils will devastate again, so the Neu spiritual tree will protect them from the devils until the Lunar January 7 when these genies return. Therefore, the pole will be removed on the seventh day of the first lunar month to conclude the ceremony. 

First, the bamboo tree must be from the eastern side of the bamboo forest, and needs to have healthy green leaves, and a non-decaying top, and should not be home to any ant or bird nests. Additionally, its length must be either 5 or 7 meters, with an odd number measurement. 

Then, the chosen one’s leaves will be cut off except for a part on top to facilitate the application for decoration. Each region from the North to the South has its own symbolic objects to hang on Cay Neu. For example, chicken feathers represent holy birds with the hope of peace, pineapple leaves wish for prosperity, the circle of bamboo cards demonstrates happiness, and bells and bows drive away all the misfortune from the previous year. Besides, to prevent the presence of evil spirits, lime powder is spread around the base of Cay Neu in a bow shape facing outside the house. 

The traditional Vietnamese Tet tree serves as a symbol of hope for prosperity in the upcoming year, and it also holds sentimental value as it is a reminder of our ancestors' customs during Tet.