(VOVworld) - When spring comes, in addition to pink peaches and yellow apricots, charming narcissuses add more color to the spring picture and excite the Tet atmosphere. The elegance, nobility and light fragrance of narcissus inspire a lot of flower connoisseurs. VOV now examines the joy of caring for and displaying narcissus at Tet in Vietnam.

When spring comes, the weather gets warmer and it’s time for narcissus lovers to boast their talents of having beautiful flowers. Dry narcissus bulbs are soaked in water to freshen them and then are cut by skilful hands. This is the most difficult step in shaping the narcissus tree because the slightest carelessness can ruin the bulb. After cutting, the narcissus bulb is dried with a soft brush so that its little buds and roots can grow. Once the buds appear, the narcissus bulb needs to be cut 3 or 4 times more to blossom. As the narcissus is flower that prefers cleanness, it’s placed in an airy spot and cleaned every day so that its roots will not be ruined. It’s a meticulous job to take care of a narcissus. When the roots grow, it’s necessary to cover the roots with clean, wet sand. Nguyen Viet Dung who has a lot of experience in growing narcissus says: "There are several steps to pruning a narcissus bulb. We need to use a professional knife to prune so that the leaves are short and the flowers are taller. This is Hanoi people’s way of caring for narcissus. When we cut the bulb, we have to avoid touching the leaves and flowers and making them dirty, otherwise they will be ruined. When the bulb grows, we need to prune it everyday".

Narcissus blossoms the earliest in spring to usher in prosperity, wealth and longevity, so it’s important to make it blossom on New Year’s Eve with the hope that good luck will come in the New Year. When the weather is cold, narcissus connoisseurs give them warm water or place the flowers in a closed room to stimulate the flowers to blossom. When the weather is warm and humid, egg whites and papaya resin are used to make the flowers blossom appropriately. Narcissus connoisseurs cut and shape the leaves and stems of the flowers to make them more beautiful and make them a work of art. Dung says shaping the narcissus is a meticulous and creative job. "A beautiful narcissus is one with long, white, beautiful roots, overlapped leaves and flowers higher than the leaves. Beautiful roots and flowers are the main things for a narcissus pot. Narcissus flowers are often compared to an emerald plate with a golden cup inside and have a passionate fragrance which is unique", said Dung.

The soft, deep, unique fragrance of narcissus gives the spring a solemn atmosphere. Such a noble and elegant fragrance inspires many people when the new year comes. Ms Lan, a narcissus seller in Hoang Hoa Tham street in Hanoi says: "During Tet, many people like to display narcissus because of its beautiful fragrance. We have to clean the flower every day. Narcissus are always best sellers during Tet".

A pot of narcissus is often placed on the altar to worship the ancestors on New Year’s Eve. Then on the first day of the new year, it’s placed in the living room with the hope of good luck. Nguyen Thu Hien, who lives in Hanoi says: "Narcissus is believed to bring good luck for the new year. I often buy narcissus for Tet. I buy a narcissus bulb and then grow it and try to make it blossom at Tet with the hope that good luck will come to my family".

Flowers are considered messages of the soul and the symbol of beauty. It’s a meticulous job to care for the narcissus, but it’s a tradition for Hanoians. Displaying this elegant flowers during Tet, people wish to recall the past and preserve a beautiful cultural tradition.