VHM_0083

This betel quid spittoon (ống nhổ bã trầu) is an heirloom of Huỳnh Đức Diêu's family and had been used in his family's marriage ceremonies over the years. Part of the ceremony involved the groom’s family presenting gifts such as betel leaf and areca nut (trầu cau) to the bride’s family as a symbol of love, respect and union. This spittoon  was used to spit out the residue of betel quid, which is a mixture of areca nut, betel leaf, slaked lime, and sometimes tobacco or spices. After resettling in the U.S. as a refugee, Huỳnh Đức Diêu, who now resides in Louisiana, later returned to Vietnam and acquired this spittoon as part of his effort to collect his family heirlooms.