In Vietnam, during festivals or party times, Vietnamese serve betel leaves and areca nuts for chewing as a conversation opener. In fact, betel leaves and areca nuts are symbolic of love and marriage and are a must during an engagement. How did this customs come about is quite interesting.
Once upon a time, there was a pair of twin brothers, Tân and Lang, whose parents had died since they were small kids. They loved and took good care of each other. They looked so much alike that people often mistook one for the other. They liked learning very much so they came to learn with a teacher. The teacher let them stay with his family. The two brothers studied hard and worked hard everyday. Their teacher was very satisfied with them.
The teacher had a very beautiful young girl at a marriageable age. It was a Vietnamese custom that the elder was to marry first. She moved for them and wanted to married the elder brother. Her parents agreed with her. So, one day the girl's parents invited the two young men for dinner. However, they only served only a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks and hid behind a baboo screen and watched. It was also a Vietnamese custom that the younger brother must pay his respect to his elder brother at all times. So Lang, the younger brother offered the pair of chopsticks to his elder brother Tan. The teacher came in and told them he would marry off his daughter to the elder. A happy wedding was held. After that, the new married couple lived happily in a small house with the younger brother.
One day, the two brothers worked hard outside and came home in late afternoon. The young wife was longing to her husband so she hugged him tight. Since the two of them were alike, the young wife showed her deep affection to her brother-in-law without realizing she made a mistake. Lang did not say anything but felt very ashamed afterwards about what had happened, decided to run away. Miles and miles away from home, he came upon the river and sat there crying, days passed then weeks passed, he died and transformed into a block of limestone.
His elder brother was naturally deeply concerned and went and looked for his younger twin brother but had no luck. He finally ended up at the same place by the river and felt too tired. He sat down, leaned against the limestone and cried and cried until he too passed away. At the spot of his death, grew a tree known as the areca nut tree.
The young wife waited for her husband and his brother for days. However, they did not show up. She was so worried and decided to go and search for them. She went to many places, asked many people but she couldn’t see the twin brothers. Her feet were pain and her heart was broken. He called her husband but there was no answer. When the wife came to the river, she was too tired. She sat under the strange tree next to the limestone and cried until she no longer could. She died and became a small plant which had heart-shape leaves. It wound around the trunk of the strange tree. People called the tree “cau” (areca palm) and the plant “trầu” (betel).
The villagers set up a shrine to venerate the three souls who sought to be united in death. Their love and unity was praised by the whole village. One day King Hùng passed by and sat on the block of limestone to rest, he noticed the shrine and asked how it came about and was told the story of the three departed. He was so sorry for them. He then proceeded to take the areca nut and a betel leaf to chew. He felt such a wonderful sensation of love and happiness. When he spat on the limestone, the liquid was as red as blood. The King said it could happen because of the love between the husband and wife and the love between the two brothers.
Astonished and touched by what happened, he declared that the three should be united and the areca nut, the betel leaves and limestone should be served during engagement festivals.
Although the habit of chewing betel leaves is nowadays not much popular, most people who keep this habit are old ones, betel leaves and areca nuts still are the most important presents which are brought to the bride’s family. They contain best wishes of people to the married couple.
One day, the two brothers worked hard outside and came home in late afternoon. The young wife was longing to her husband so she hugged him tight. Since the two of them were alike, the young wife showed her deep affection to her brother-in-law without realizing she made a mistake. Lang did not say anything but felt very ashamed afterwards about what had happened, decided to run away. Miles and miles away from home, he came upon the river and sat there crying, days passed then weeks passed, he died and transformed into a block of limestone.
The villagers set up a shrine to venerate the three souls who sought to be united in death. Their love and unity was praised by the whole village. One day King Hùng passed by and sat on the block of limestone to rest, he noticed the shrine and asked how it came about and was told the story of the three departed. He was so sorry for them. He then proceeded to take the areca nut and a betel leaf to chew. He felt such a wonderful sensation of love and happiness. When he spat on the limestone, the liquid was as red as blood. The King said it could happen because of the love between the husband and wife and the love between the two brothers.
Astonished and touched by what happened, he declared that the three should be united and the areca nut, the betel leaves and limestone should be served during engagement festivals.
Although the habit of chewing betel leaves is nowadays not much popular, most people who keep this habit are old ones, betel leaves and areca nuts still are the most important presents which are brought to the bride’s family. They contain best wishes of people to the married couple.
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