The beauty of buying salt at the beginning of the year
(Baonghean.vn) - There is a folk saying “buy salt at the beginning of the year, buy lime at the end of the year” to describe the customs and practices of Vietnamese people in the new year. This custom has more or less disappeared nowadays. However, many families still preserve the beautiful habits and concepts that have existed for a long time.
In big markets like Quynh Thien market, Quynh Lien market, Mai Hung market, Ngo market, Mo market, Giat market, Tuan market and in some big temples and pagodas, salt is available in grocery stores and stores specializing in selling offerings. Salt has become an indispensable commodity like betel and areca nuts, votive paper, fruits...
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| Salt is available in grocery stores and stores specializing in selling offerings to meet people's need to buy salt for good luck at the beginning of the year. Photo by Viet Phuong |
The ancients believed that salt is a savory substance, has the effect of preventing bad luck, warding off evil spirits and bringing more luck to the family. Buying salt at the beginning of the year has a meaning in culinary culture, spiritual culture, bringing richness to family relationships, harmony between husband, wife and children.
Ms. Hoang Thi Nhiem, a resident of Quynh Thach commune, Quynh Luu district, said: "The custom of buying salt at the beginning of the year has existed for a long time, and my family still maintains it regularly. Salt is used to purify, ward off evil spirits, and make offerings to living beings. Generally, in my family's New Year's worshiping customs, white salt and rice are indispensable."
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| Hoang Mai and Quynh Luu towns are the localities with the largest salt-making areas in the province, with an annual salt output of over 75,000 tons. Photo by Van Nguyen |
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| In the first days of the new year 2017, the price of salt increased by 2-3 times. Photo by Van Nguyen |
In Hoang Mai Town, Quynh Luu District, where the salt production area is over 600 hectares - the largest in the province, the annual salt output reaches over 75,000 tons. Concentrated mainly in localities such as An Hoa, Quynh Thuan, Quynh Tho and Quynh Phuong. The price of salt fluctuates constantly every year, the lowest point is only 500 VND/kg. Particularly at the end of 2016 and the first days of the new year 2017, the price of salt increased by 2-3 times. Specifically, raw salt sold by the people is from 1,200,000 to 1,700,000 VND/kg, in raw salt warehouses it is from 1,600 to 2,000 VND/kg, finished salt including clean grain salt is priced at 2,800 to 3,000 VND/kg, iodized salt is 2,900 to 3,000 VND/kg. Ms. Dau Thi Anh Ngoc, accountant of Hoang Mai Salt Enterprise, said: Right from the beginning of the year, our unit had a shipment for sale. Compared to previous years, the salt output this year has increased quite a bit, mainly serving orders to the North, where there are temples, pagodas, large spring festivals, and serving people in the first days of the new year 2017. Currently, industries and salt farmers are actively coordinating, boldly applying many new technologies to production, aiming to improve output and quality of finished salt, reduce costs and labor for salt farmers, so that the salt industry no longer has to abandon fields and not produce as before. |
Van Nguyen
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