And in the rice jar…

Also made of clay and fired at high temperatures, the smaller earthenware jar is typically used to store rice or ferment fish sauce. The rice jar is not only an essential household item but also holds feng shui significance in the family, even though it's usually confined to the kitchen. A simple meal of boiled vegetables and braised pork is enough, but having rice in the jar is considered reassuring. A long-standing folk belief dictates that when scooping rice for cooking, the can shouldn't touch the bottom of the jar, making noise, and the jar should never be completely emptied; there should always be at least half a jar of rice remaining for good fortune.

CN4 nspn.jpg — The star apples ripen more evenly and become more fragrant when stored in a rice jar. Photo: DO TINH

Rice stored in a granary is susceptible to rodents, but rice in a large earthenware jar is worry-free. Its rough exterior, sturdy construction, and heavy lid ensure no rat could ever reach it. While people in the past used the saying "hang up what belongs to dogs, cover what belongs to cats," rice in an earthenware jar can simply be covered and left undisturbed.

The rice jar wasn't just for Mom and my sister; the children in the house, whether old enough to cook or not, would also keep an eye on it, because Mom always carefully stored her "reserves" in it. Whenever we went to a memorial service, people would only bring a couple of small cakes or some tangerines or oranges as gifts. Mom would usually keep them in the rice jar so the children would have some treats when they came home from school. With five or seven people in the house, if we didn't keep them in the jar, they'd all be gone in no time. The rice jar was like a "secret stash." Mom or Grandma would often whisper to the children after returning from a memorial service, "Grandma/Mom put some cakes in the rice jar; you can take some later."

Living surrounded by fields and rice paddies, the vegetables and fruits around the house were also a great snack for the children. When Dad came home from the fields, he would often pick a few ripe star apples to preserve (or "sprout") in the rice jar; after a few days, they would turn golden yellow and fragrant. Or, we'd pick some ripe mangoes or custard apples, put them in the rice jar for three days, and they'd ripen evenly. When we opened the lid, we'd be greeted with a sweet, fragrant aroma that made us crave them. Those little taste of home grew with us as we grew up, and every time we returned home, we'd still eagerly await hearing, "Mom still has some preserved in the rice jar, you know." Or, if we accidentally picked an unripe mango, we'd quickly bring it inside and store it in the rice jar, waiting to smell its sweet fragrance, so as not to waste Dad's efforts in caring for it every day, while the children eagerly picked the green fruit.

Life is developing, and the needs and living standards of people are rising, whether in cities or rural villages. The old, heavy rice jar has given way to new, convenient options now known as "smart rice containers," designed with lids that allow for easy dispensing and measuring of rice as desired by the cook. There are also plenty of choices of delicious, pre-cut fruits, ready to eat, instead of waiting anxiously in the rice jar. But even amidst the myriad changes and transformations of childhood, the image of the rice jar, regardless of its form, always embodies family love and a way of life focused on frugality and saving, a lesson passed down through generations of grandparents and parents to their children.

OCEAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/con-trong-khap-gao-post806646.html