The Vietnamese tradition holds the belief that showing gratitude and respect to the gods and ancestors will bring blessings and protection. This is especially true for the land gods, who are believed to be the guardians and protectors of the land we live on. As such, this article will guide you through the process of conducting a year-end land gratitude ritual, including the timing, offerings, and prayers involved.
1 Land Gratitude Ritual: Timing and Significance
The year-end land gratitude ritual is a traditional ceremony to express gratitude to the land gods and ancestors for their protection and blessings throughout the year. It is typically performed with great reverence, as people hope that the gods will continue to bestow blessings of peace and harmony upon their families in the coming year. Additionally, the ritual serves as a way to honor and remember the ancestors’ guidance and support.
While a land-opening ceremony is usually conducted at the beginning of the year, the year-end land gratitude ritual is a way to express gratitude and respect before the year ends.
Ideal Day for the Year-End Land Gratitude Ritual
Traditionally, the year-end land gratitude ritual was performed before sending off the Kitchen God to Heaven. However, as the ritual is not mandatory, most families now combine it with the Kitchen God ceremony.
There are two ideal times to perform the year-end land gratitude ritual:
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On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, along with the ceremony for seeing off the Kitchen God.
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Alternatively, you can choose any day between the full moon of the twelfth lunar month and the day before the Kitchen God’s departure.
2 Offerings for the Land Gratitude Ritual
Offerings for the Year-End Land Gratitude Ritual
For families with a three-incense-burner altar dedicated to the Local Land God, the Ancestral Spirits, and the Female Ancestors, the following offerings are typically prepared after cleaning the altar:
Vegetarian Offerings:
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Incense, candles, or lamps.
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Fresh flowers: 10 flowers (roses or chrysanthemums) arranged in two vases and placed on both sides of the altar.
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3 betel leaves and 3 areca nuts, chosen for their beauty and longevity.
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2 plates of placed on either side of the altar.
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2 large plates of white sticky rice, also placed on both sides of the altar.
Non-Vegetarian Offerings:
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A whole boiled chicken or a boiled front pig’s trotter, presented on a large plate.
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0.5 liters of white wine and 3 small cups for serving.
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10 cans of beer and 6 cans of soft drinks, arranged on both sides of the altar.
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1 pack of cigarettes and a box of tea.
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Various types of seasonal fruits arranged on a large plate.
Paper offerings: These are not mandatory and depend on the family’s financial situation. If possible, prepare the following:
6 horses of different colors (red, green, white, yellow, and indigo), each with a set of small hats, clothes, and boots. Accompanying the horses are flags, swords, and whips. Each horse should have 10 gold ingots on its back. Additionally, there should be a larger red horse with a larger set of accessories.
3 Prayer for the Land Gratitude Ritual
Prayer for the Year-End Land Gratitude Ritual
Today is the 2nd (or 16th) day of the [month] in the year [year]. We, the family of [family name], sincerely offer incense, flowers, fruits, rice, salt, paper money, cakes, and other offerings to the Gods, our Ancestors, and the spirits of the land we live on.
We humbly invite all the Gods, Ancestors, and spirits of the land to accept our offerings and witness our gratitude.
Nam Mo Quan The Am Bo Tat – May the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara bear witness (3 times).
May the Buddhas and Gods forgive any shortcomings in our offerings. We sincerely hope that all the Gods, Ancestors, and spirits of the land will accept our offerings and bestow their blessings upon us.
Nam Mo Quan The Am Bo Tat – May the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara bear witness (3 times).
(This prayer should be recited twice).
As the incense burns down, recite:
Nam Mo Quan The Am Bo Tat – May the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara bear witness (7 times).
May the ritual come to a close. We invite all the Gods, Ancestors, and spirits of the land to return to their abodes and grant us permission to retire the offerings.
Nam Mo Quan The Am Bo Tat – May the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara bear witness (3 times).
(Mix the rice and salt together and scatter them first, then burn the paper money).
4 Prayer for Tạ Đất at the Beginning and End of the Year
Format for the Year-End Land Gratitude Ritual
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat – Homage to Amitabha Buddha (3 times).
We respectfully bow to:
– The Local Land God.
– The Five-Directional Dragon Vein Land God.
Today is the [date] of the [month] in the year [year], and it is the [season]. We, the [family name], sincerely offer incense, flowers, wine, and other ritual items to express our gratitude to the Land Gods.
Our family has been blessed to live and thrive in this place, thanks to the protection and blessings of the Land Gods. The land here is harmonious and prosperous, with good feng shui, vibrant energy, and abundant resources. We have been free from disasters and illnesses, and our family has enjoyed peace and good health.
As we approach the end of the year, we prepare these offerings to express our deepest gratitude and respect. We invite all the Land Gods to descend and accept our offerings and witness our sincerity.
We believe that the Land Gods will continue to bless our family and grant our wishes for a prosperous home, increased wealth and luck, and a thriving family.
We unite the Yin and Yang energies and sincerely pray that our wishes will be granted. We humbly invite our ancestral spirits to join us in this ceremony.
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat – Homage to Amitabha Buddha (3 times).
For reference: Rituals and prayers for year-end gratitude offerings.
5 Notes on Performing the Land Gratitude Ritual
You can perform this ritual at your home altar, starting with offerings to the Ten Directions Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Saints, Heavenly Beings, Earth Gods, Land Gods, and Dragon Gods. Before the ritual, it is important to clean and dress respectfully to show your reverence. During the prayer, maintain a solemn and sincere attitude to gain the most benefit for yourself and your family.
Notes on Performing the Land Gratitude Ritual
We hope that this article has provided you with a comprehensive guide to performing the year-end land gratitude ritual, including the timing, offerings, and prayers involved. Stay tuned for more informative articles.
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