The custom of burning paper offerings during Lunar New Year celebration
VOV.VN - Burning paper offerings (joss papers) is an important custom during the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) in Vietnam, which is typically performed on the third, fourth, or fifth day of the first lunar month, depending on the family or region.
There are several important rituals during the Lunar New Year celebration in Vietnam, starting with the ceremony for the Kitchen Gods on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. On the last day of the 12th lunar month, families prepare offerings and a meal to invite their ancestors and grandparents to celebrate Tet with their descendants.
It is believed that during Tet, ancestors are invited back to the household to enjoy offerings from their descendants. When Tet ends, typically on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the family prepares a lavish meal to bid farewell to their ancestors and grandparents. After that, they burn incense papers that are placed on the altar during the Tet period.
This is a way for descendants to show respect and gratitude to their ancestors for their blessings in the previous year and to ask for their protection and good fortune in the year ahead.
The Vietnamese believe that by burning joss offerings, ancestors will have everything they need in the spiritual realm, thus ensuring good fortune and prosperity for their descendants.
Typically, the ritual takes place on the third day of Tet. However, it has become more flexible in recent years to accommodate work schedules, with some families conducting it on the second day of Tet, while others may extend the celebration and farewell of ancestors until the 10th day of the Lunar New Year.
The offerings vary by region, and depending on time and economic conditions, each family can adjust the offerings to suit their situation. Generally, the offerings for this ceremony include incense, flowers, tea, liquor, sweets, fruits, incense papers, and dishes from the Tet meals.
In some families, two sugarcanes are added to the offerings, based on the folk belief that the ancestors can use the sugarcanes as walking sticks or as carrying poles to bring the offerings back to the spiritual world.
The savoury meal often includes a boiled rooster, soup, stir-fried dishes, Vietnamese sausages, sticky rice cakes, and sometimes, a fish dish made from carp. The carp is believed to symbolize the ascension of the fish to become a dragon, which is thought to bring wealth and good fortune to the family.
After the incense is burned out, the head of the family will bow three times and ask for permission to burn the paper offerings. The gold paper money is burned first, followed by other items like clothes, hats, and shoes. If a family member has passed away recently, the gold paper for that person must be burned last.
Some families may also carefully take the two sugarcanes and gently wave them over the burned gold paper, symbolizing the act of sending walking sticks or carrying poles to the ancestors to help them transport the wealth back to the afterlife.
Once the burning of the paper offerings is complete, the head of the family sprinkles a few drops of liquor over the offerings. This is believed to maintain the sacredness of the ceremony and ensure that the ancestors receive all the offerings and gold paper sent by their descendants.
Afterward, the offerings of food, cakes, and other items on the altar are removed so that the family can enjoy the blessings of Tet and end the holiday, returning to their normal routines.
The custom of burning incense paper not only carries deep spiritual significance but also offers an opportunity for families to come together, honor their ancestors, and continue the beautiful cultural traditions of Vietnam.
