Unlike Western countries that often use knives and forks in meals, chopsticks are familiar tools associated with culinary life in many Asian countries.The chopsticks were born from about 1,800 BC.At first, large sized chopsticks are often used for cooking.By about 200 BC, chopsticks began to become a popular utensils in Eastern meals.
Traditional Vietnamese chopsticks
In different Asian countries, chopsticks bring their own features in the use as well as cultural concepts.If in Japan, people prefer short wooden chopsticks, in Korea, chopsticks are made up of metal.The traditional Vietnamese chopsticks are also mainly made from wood, round body to carpentry, not painted decorative, chopsticks are usually not too small but somewhat longer than Japanese and Korean chopsticks.
And in Vietnam alone, chopsticks also have a certain difference between each region by cultural characteristics.The Northern village is associated with the image of the bamboo heads of the village, so people often take the old bamboo body to make chopsticks.Usually chopsticks in the North are a bit shorter than the South.In the South, where there are many rivers and coconut trees tilted, chopsticks are also so many coconuts.
There is a fact that many people recognize that the use of chopsticks is often more difficult than using a fork.Therefore, in every meal, chopsticks are often used extremely flexibly, can replace most other items.The way to hold the chopsticks is an interesting, inspiring story for researchers.
Before holding the chopsticks, two chopsticks must be arranged evenly so that the use only touches the upper edge of the chopsticks.Then, use 3 fingers: the thumb, index finger and middle finger gently hold the chopsticks.The nails of the ring finger are placed under the chopsticks, thumb and index finger to clamp the chopsticks, fix them, the end of the chopsticks is about 1 inch.
More than a everyday item, chopsticks contain many cultural meanings
The chopsticks are not only a permanent item in every daily meal but also contain the profound values of the mind, emotion and culture of Vietnamese people.In the past, grandparents often used the phrase "learn to eat, learn to speak, learn packages, learn to open" to teach their children the basic things in life.Accordingly, eating and drinking does not stop in the instinctive aspect but also contains rules that people need to learn.
Young children often start learning how to use chopsticks when they are 5-6 years old.At the beginning of the meal, it is necessary to compare the chopsticks and pay attention to whether the chopsticks are placed in the right direction or not.Besides, in the traditional meals, to show the interest and sharing subtly, people use the chopsticks to clean the food to invite "one round" around the tray.During the meal, when you want to pick up food for others, often polite, people have to stir the chopsticks to pick up with the other head.After a meal, the chopsticks must be put down neatly, not to be staggered or buckled.If you cannot hold the chopsticks properly, you must pay attention to your finger, do not straighten your index finger when holding the chopsticks because it looks like it is just straight into the opposite person.
(Photo taken from "Saigon 150 years of silhouette" - Young Publishing House)
Besides, children are also taught not to suck and suck chopsticks because this is the impolite show on the dining table.When picking up the food, you should not float the whole dish of food to find what you like or when chatting in the meal is not chewed while talking and speaking, holding chopsticks and flowers and feet to tell stories.When dipping the food, you should also pay attention not to let the chopsticks touch the dipping sauce and pay attention not to let the dirty dipping sauce on the table, nor should you use your chopsticks to stir the dipping sauce or stir into the soup.These things are small but show the sophistication and culinary culture of Vietnamese people.
In addition, according to the folklore aspect, Vietnamese people believe that typing of chopsticks in the meal will make hungry ghosts come to harass.
For a country with a long history and possessing a variety of cuisine like our country, chopsticks no longer stop in the aspect of food and drink, but above all, it contains cultural stories a lot.Life is transmitted.