About the proverb "Midday market, wilted melons"

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - The Vietnamese Proverb Dictionary (Nguyen Duc Duong - Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - 2010) explains: "The noon market, the melons wilt: The closer to noon the market is, the more likely the melons will wilt (so don't be in a hurry to act high and mighty or you'll easily lose your goods). It is often used to remind people not to be in a hurry to act high and mighty when they're young or they'll easily miss out on their chance."

I came home to urge my mother and father,

The noon market has wilted melons, so sad.

(Folk song)

The Vietnamese Proverb Dictionary (Nguyen Duc Duong - Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - 2010) explains: "The noon market, the melons wilt: The closer to noon the market is, the more likely the melons will wilt (so don't be in a hurry to act high and mighty or you'll easily lose your goods). It is often used to remind people not to be in a hurry to act high and mighty when they are young or they'll easily miss out on their chance."

There are two things to discuss in this sentence.

Literally, it is not true that "the closer to noon the market is, the easier it is for the melons to wilt", but here the proverb has two parts:

- "Lunch market" means the market is closed, it's late, there are no more buyers.

In the past, morning markets often opened very early and by mid-morning, the market had already begun to close. Both sellers and buyers calculated to finish their business early so they could return home, sometimes the road was very far. Only when the market session was missed or the goods were slow to sell, would buyers and sellers meet at noon. Therefore, there was a folk saying, "A man going to the noon market meets a woman who is unsold", meaning both sides were lucky, on time; the latecomer met the unsold person (synonymous with a woman who has lost her husband meets a widower; a sleepy woman meets a bamboo mat/ Just when her husband left her, she met a man standing in the middle of the road).

- “Withered melon”, the “melon” here is not a watermelon or a cucumber, but a pickled cabbage (a type of cabbage used for pickling). This type of pickled cabbage is very easy to wither and once it is withered, it shrivels up, looks very little and is no longer fresh and attractive.

Figuratively, “noon market” is compared to a late, deserted scene, with few people asking and caring. “Withered melon” is compared to a scene of being past the prime of life, with faded beauty. “Noon market, withered melon” is no different from a girl’s scene of being deserted and late in love. Therefore, there is a folk saying “Come home and urge your mother and father, The noon market has withered melons, lest you be sad!” (Folk song), and the main idea of ​​this sentence is not “to remind people not to be too proud when they are young and easily miss out on their chance” as the Vietnamese Proverb Dictionary explains.

Man Nong (Contributor)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-cau-tuc-ngu-nbsp-cho-trua-dua-heo-252786.htm