Lilies have long been seen as flowers of purity and noble beauty, and they carry particular meanings in spiritual life. Placing lilies on the altar, or using them as flowers of remembrance on important days, is a dignified way to decorate, and many families also give it a feng shui meaning. This article looks at what it means to place lilies on the family altar in Vietnam, where most homes keep an altar to their ancestors.
What lilies mean in different cultures
In Chinese culture
In Chinese culture the lily, known in Vietnamese by the Chinese-derived name hoa bách hợp, is regarded as a flower of harmony and happiness. The name bách hợp is understood as “a hundred years of harmony”. Choosing lilies expresses belief in a happy, prosperous relationship and a lasting bond.
In European culture
In Europe the lily is a symbol of strength, power and luxury. Its image appears in many emblems and coats of arms of old dynasties, and lilies were used as table flowers at lavish banquets.
In Vietnamese culture
In Vietnam, lilies are often chosen as wedding flowers, as flowers for the altar at Tết (the Lunar New Year), as an offering to Thần Tài (the God of Wealth), or as flowers for the full moon of the seventh lunar month. Decorating with lilies at festivals is taken as a sign of good fortune and of respect and remembrance for the ancestors. Yellow lilies are also a symbol of long life, so they are often given at a longevity celebration, the birthday of an older person.
Should lilies be placed on the altar of Thần Tài, the God of Wealth?
Is it true that lilies on the altar drain away good fortune and break up the family? The doubt comes from the word ly in the flower’s Vietnamese name, hoa ly, which makes many people think of ly tán (to be scattered) and chia ly (to part). In Flosa’s view this is only a play on words, and it has nothing to do with what the flower stands for.
As described above, the lily has a good, positive meaning in each of these cultures. It looks elegant, lasts a particularly long time in the vase, opens into a handsome full bloom and is strongly scented. Lilies are a fine choice for the altar, whether it is the ancestral altar, the altar of Thần Tài, a Buddhist altar or a Catholic offering of flowers.
Lilies arranged for the altar, a choice that many families associate with good fortune
What lilies on the altar mean
With their refined beauty and gentle scent, lilies are usually counted among the flowers suitable for the altar on the death anniversaries of grandparents and ancestors. A vase of lilies looks dignified and carries a deeper meaning.
Dignity and peace: lilies on the altar give a feeling of calm, and their fragrance honours the spirits of the ancestors.
A close and lasting bond: the pure, clear beauty of lilies on the altar expresses the wholehearted devotion of children and grandchildren to their ancestors.
Respect and gratitude: offering lilies is a reverent and heartfelt way to thank the forebears, the Cửu Huyền Thất Tổ (a set phrase for all the generations of one’s ancestors).
Keeping away evil spirits and bad omens: in folk belief the lily is also said to drive off evil spirits and to bring luck and good omens to the household.
Which occasions suit lilies on the altar best?
Decorating the altar with lilies is a way of honouring relatives who have died, and it also gives a formal air to a business opening, an offering to the ancestors, a wedding or an engagement.
Funerals: at a Catholic funeral, white lilies on the altar carry a solemn meaning and show deep respect for the person who has died.
Business openings: lilies displayed on the day of a grand opening are a wish for plain sailing and smooth business, and are thought to attract good, positive energy.
Offerings to the ancestors, asking for good omens: lilies on the altar express the belief that the ancestors are present, always close by and watching over their descendants.
Weddings and engagements: in the ceremony hall on a wedding or engagement day, lilies help give the celebration a dignified, refined look.
Death anniversaries: on the giỗ, the yearly memorial day for a relative, lilies on the altar show devotion and how much the person is missed.
How to arrange lilies for the altar
How to arrange lilies attractively
What you need:
Fresh lilies, single or double-flowered
A vase
Floral foam
Palm leaves and fern
Flower food solution
Washing-up liquid or a vitamin B1 tablet
Lemon juice or an aspirin tablet (optional)
Steps:
Trim the flowers: cut the base of each stem at a 45-degree angle and strip the leaves from the lower part, so that the stems take up water more easily.
Soak the floral foam: before arranging, soak the foam in the flower food solution until it is wet through. This keeps the flowers fresh for longer. When it has finished soaking, put the foam into the vase and fix it firmly in place.
Arrange the lilies: fill the vase halfway with water. Put the tallest stem in the middle, then add the shorter stems working outwards, so that the arrangement looks balanced and natural.
Add greenery: place palm leaves and fern around the lilies to give the arrangement an accent and finish it off.
Tips to keep the flowers fresh for longer:
Instead of plain cold water, a common household tip is to add a little washing-up liquid or a vitamin B1 tablet to the vase water, to hold back bacteria and mould and to feed the flowers.
Adding lemon juice or a crushed aspirin tablet to the water is also said to help the flowers last and to stop the base of the stems rotting early.
Lily arrangements for the altar: dignified and elegant examples
For more ideas on shaping an arrangement, here are some elegant examples of lilies on the altar.
White lilies on the ancestral altar, refined and understated
Pink lilies are a popular choice for decorating the altar at festivals and at Tết
Another elegant arrangement of lilies for the altar that you could take as a model
The fresh pink of lilies makes the family’s place of worship feel gentler and more serene
A pretty lily arrangement for the altar of Thần Tài and Thổ Địa (the God of Wealth and the Earth God), worth remembering
A vase of lilies as pretty as a painting, displayed for Tết
Lilies are a very good choice for the altar on death anniversaries and other important days of offering. They are valued for their pure beauty, and many families also give them a spiritual and feng shui meaning. Flosa hopes this information is useful and helps you choose altar flowers that are beautiful and offered sincerely.
