Vietnamese people worship Kitchen Gods - a fine age-old custom

According to Vietnamese folklore, the Land Genie is the deity that oversees household land, while the Kitchen Gods represents three deities responsible for kitchen affairs. Sent by Heaven, the deities observe and record human actions throughout the year. On this day, families hold a ceremony to send the deities to Heaven, where they then report to the Jade Emperor about the household’s activities and aspirations for blessings ahead in the coming year.

Due to regional lifestyles and customs, the offerings for this ritual differ across Vietnam. In the North, where it is believed the Kitchen Gods ascend to Heaven after midday on the 23rd, families often prepare the ritual in the morning or even a day or two before.

Offerings can range from elaborate to simple, depending on each family’s circumstances. A typical set includes a ceremonial kit for the deities, carp, fruits, and a savory feast with traditional dishes such as chicken, sticky rice, spring rolls, bamboo shoot soup, and pork rolls. Some families opt for simpler offerings like flowers, fruits, and vegetarian items. The ritual is usually performed at the ancestral altar or the kitchen area. Afterward, paper offerings are burned and live carp are released into nearby ponds or rivers.

In the central region, statuettes of the three Kitchen Gods are essential. In the South, families often perform the ritual later in the evening or hold an additional ceremony on the seventh day of the new year to welcome the Kitchen Gods back.

“The core value of this custom is to honour one’s roots and ancestors while wishing for happiness and prosperity,” says Dr. Nguyen Viet Chuc, a cultural scholar, “Regardless of regional or familial variations, sincerity remains at the heart of this ritual.”

Even in modern life, the ritual is an indispensable part of the Lunar New Year celebrations in many Vietnamese households. It is a way for younger generations to understand and appreciate their cultural heritage, thereby contributing to the preservation of national identity.

However, the ritual has undergone changes, with misunderstanding occasionally coming into practice and meaning. For instance, the excessive burning of paper offerings or improper release of carp, such as leaving them in plastic bags, has led to various environmental concerns.

“Lavish offerings or excessive burning of paper items are unnecessary. The essence lies in the heartfelt remembrance of ancestors and origins. Releasing carp is not merely about sending the Kitchen Gods to Heaven but also embodies the act of mercy and moral reflection. People should understand the cultural significance of this act and behave appropriately to avoid undesirable impacts,” says Dr. Chuc, former vice chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Culture and Education.

In recent years, efforts have been made to educate the public about the ritual and its cultural significance. The Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center in Hanoi holds an annual carp release ceremony on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, accompanied by royal traditions associated with the Lunar New Year.

“In Vietnamese folklore, the carp symbolizes perseverance and the aspiration for success, as seen in the legend of the carp transforming into a dragon. The ceremonial release of carp at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long aims to uphold these traditions and reinforce the nation’s cultural identity,” shares the scholar.

In present-day life, designated areas for releasing carp are equipped with instructional signs and trash bins which seek to encourage people to discard plastic bags responsibly. These efforts contribute to enhancing the beauty and meaningfulness of this cherished tradition.