What to Prepare for the Ancestral Offering on the 15th Day of the Seventh Lunar Month: Vegetarian or Meat Dishes?
The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is a significant festival in Vietnamese culture, associated with two important events: The Ullambana or Vu Lan Festival and the Ghost Festival or Xá Tội Vong Nhân.
Some believe that since both originate from Buddhism, offering vegetarian dishes is more appropriate.
However, others argue that the choice between vegetarian and meat dishes depends on whom one wishes to offer the ceremony to.
If it is for the Buddha and wandering souls, vegetarian dishes are suitable. On the other hand, for ceremonies dedicated to deities and ancestors, one can offer meat dishes following family traditions.
Vegetarian or Meat Dishes for the Ancestral Offering on the 15th Day of the Seventh Lunar Month?
In reality, there are no set rules, and the choice between vegetarian and meat dishes depends on one’s beliefs, customs, and practical circumstances. The most important factor is sincerity, and the specific dishes offered are not as crucial.
Even Buddhist monks advise against being too stubborn about offering vegetarian or meat dishes, to the point of causing disharmony within the family. For instance, if you prefer vegetarian offerings but your relatives believe that meat dishes are necessary to show filial piety to your ancestors, insisting on your way may lead to conflict. In such cases, the serenity and significance of the offering ceremony would be lost.
The number of offerings, the number of dishes per offering, and the richness of the dishes depend on each family’s conditions, circumstances, and beliefs. The most important aspect is to ensure that the offerings are hygienic, fresh, and prepared with reverence.
The Offering Ceremony on the 15th Day of the Seventh Lunar Month
Offering to the Buddha
The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is a significant festival for Buddhists. Offer the Buddha a simple vegetarian meal or a tray of five types of fruit during the day. Afterward, the family can share the food at home.
Offering to Deities and Ancestors
For the offering to deities and ancestors, families usually prepare either vegetarian or meat dishes, depending on their beliefs. This offering should be more elaborate, with a variety of nutritious dishes to show reverence and gratitude to the ancestors. Traditional meat dishes include steamed sticky rice, boiled chicken, soup, braised fish, stir-fried dishes, and salads. Fruits, flowers, water, wine, incense, candles, joss paper, and other paper items for the deceased are also commonly prepared.
Offering to Hungry Ghosts or Wandering Souls
The Hungry Ghost Ceremony, or offering to wandering souls, is performed outdoors on the evening of the 14th or 15th of the seventh lunar month. This offering is meant to provide alms to homeless souls. According to folk beliefs, this is the time when the souls are on their way back to hell, so they should be fed before they return to endure suffering in the underworld.
The offering to hungry ghosts usually includes:
Rice with salt (one dish, which is then scattered in the four directions and eight orientations after the ceremony)
Twelve small bowls of thin rice porridge
Fruits of five colors
Popcorn, cakes, and candies
Twelve pieces of brown sugar
Colorful clothes for the souls (blue, green, yellow, pink, etc.)
Real coins and joss paper money
Three cups of water, incense, and candles
Whether you choose to offer vegetarian or meat dishes, the most important thing is your sincerity. The ancestral offering on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month is not just a ritual but also a way for descendants to express their gratitude and pray for the liberation of their ancestors, deities, and wandering souls. It is this sincerity that gives depth and meaning to the ceremony.
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“Superstitions surrounding food offerings on the Lunar calendar’s 15th day of the seventh month are prevalent in many Asian cultures. Certain foods are considered taboo and bringing these foods to the ancestral altar is believed to bring bad luck and misfortune.”
