In the folk traditions in Taiwan, the gourd is provided with multiple lucky and propitious meanings. That is because we Taiwanese call the gourd "hu lu", which has the same sound as the Chinese words "fortune and prosperity." Meanwhile, the gourd is a plant with creeping tendrils and vines. It seems that the gourd will porduce a lot of generations. So we Taiwanese believe that the gourd has the metaphor of longevity and having a large number of offsprings.

Because the gourd has such a metaphor, it has always been regarded as a mascot and it, of course, is used extensively in any joyous events and at home. All kinds of gourd crafts or decorations of the gourd image can be seen here and there. The gourd really plays an important role in the folk customs of Taiwan.

How the gourd is used in the folklore both in Taiwan and will be introduced as the following:

(1)Gourd is pronounced as "fu lu" in Chinese, which has the same sound as "fortune and prosperity" and is reagared as a mascot all the time.

Many people in Taiwan, especially in the early period, like to string five gourds together and hang it on the gate of the house because they believe it will brings them five kinds of fortune -- longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and peace. Besides, they like to put a gourd inside the house. As an old Taiwanese saying goes, "cu lai ji lia bu, ga lai ji ding fu" (pronounced in Taiwanese), which means if you put a gourd inside your house, you will become rich.

(2)The tendrils and the vines of the gourd means "continuous generations."

The gourd is a plant with vines and creeping tendrils. After contiunous lateral branches grow up and the plant will come with a lot of gourds. The vines and tendrils can stretch are so long and bear so many gourds from the same plant that we Taiwanese imply the gourd with a metaphor of contiunous generations. It wsa meaningful for many families because in the early period of Taiwanese agricultural society, labors were needed so much that a big family with as many members as possible was good for their agricultural activity.

(2)The gourd has always been believed that it is with a magic power of leading people to good fortune and keeping them away from devil.

Many Chinese legends or fairy tales show that some supernatural beings or celestial often appear with a gourd. So the gourd is considered as one with magic power. People believe that the gourd can keep them away from devil and lead them to good fortune. They also believed if they put a gourd in the place that they think is unfortunate, we can still live peacefully or even beat the devil.