Our ancestors taught us “worshiping all year is not as good as paying respects on the 1st day of Lunar New Year” to emphasize the importance of this ritual.
Many families have the habit of placing fake fruits and fake flowers on the altar because these items have beautiful colors and do not wither or spoil. However, homeowners need to note that these are things that should not be placed on the altar.
Worshiping emphasizes the sincerity of the heart. Instead of offering fake items, use fresh flowers and fresh fruits. Genuine and fresh items demonstrate genuine respect for the deities and ancestors. Homeowners do not need to choose expensive items, just select something suitable for the family’s economic conditions.
Fake money, money of dubious origins
Many households have the habit of placing money on the altar during festive occasions. It should be noted that the money placed on the altar should be real money, money earned through one’s own efforts. Fake money or money of dubious origins should not be placed on the altar to offer to the ancestors and deities.
Worshiping primarily depends on the sincerity of the heart, it is not necessary to offer a large amount of money for it to be considered good.
Animal cruelty
According to folklore, on the 1st day of Lunar New Year, homeowners can offer vegetarian food or non-vegetarian food (except for Buddhist altars, which are always vegetarian).
The non-vegetarian feast is prepared similarly to the feast during Tet holiday. When preparing the non-vegetarian feast, homeowners should avoid offering pork. It is believed that offering pork at the beginning of the year is not auspicious. Committing harm and violence right at the start of the year will affect the family’s blessings.
Vegetarian food pretending to be non-vegetarian
Many families believe that the 1st day of Lunar New Year is a day to avoid harming living beings, so they offer vegetarian food and do good deeds to bring peace and good luck to the family. For families with Buddhist altars, they usually offer vegetarian food. When preparing the vegetarian feast, homeowners should avoid offering vegetarian food in the form of non-vegetarian items, such as fake shrimp, fake meat, fake fish… as it shows a clouded and impure mind.
The information is for reference and personal experience only.
Frequently asked questions
The four things that are considered inauspicious to place on the altar during this time are shoes, sharp objects, mirrors, and books.
Shoes are believed to carry the dirt and dust of the outside world, including any negative energy or entities that may be attached. Placing shoes on the altar is thought to invite this negative energy into the home and disrupt the peace and harmony that the altar represents.
Sharp objects, such as knives or scissors, represent cutting and dividing energy. They are believed to counteract the positive, unifying energy that the altar is meant to embody. Placing sharp objects on the altar is thought to bring disharmony and conflict into the home.
Mirrors are believed to reflect and potentially amplify any negative energy present, disturbing the calm and positive atmosphere that the altar represents. Books, on the other hand, symbolize knowledge and learning, which are considered too active and engaging for the peaceful and contemplative nature of the altar during this sacred period.
These beliefs and practices are often associated with Vietnamese culture and folk religion, which places great importance on creating and maintaining harmony and balance in the home and with the spiritual world. Similar practices and superstitions can also be found in other Asian cultures, highlighting the shared importance of respecting and honoring ancestral and spiritual traditions.
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