Tet Doan Ngo is a very special festival that is highly regarded by many people. On Tet Doan Ngo day, many good customs and practices are usually held, which carry the rich cultural identity of the nation. Let’s learn more about this special Tet day and how it will be celebrated in 2023!
1. What is Tet Doan Ngo?
Tet Doan Ngo is one of the major festivals in our country
Tet Doan Ngo is one of the major festivals in our country, which takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, also known as Tet Doan Duong or Tet Killing Worm Day. According to the old belief, on this day, worms, maggots, lice, etc. inside the digestive system grow and develop, harmful to health, so they need to be eliminated.
This is considered one of the traditional festivals with a rich cultural significance. It is present not only in Vietnam or China but also in Korea, North Korea. That is why Tet Doan Ngo is actually an Eastern Asian holiday tradition associated with the concept of seasonal cyclicity in the year.
In addition, in Vietnam, there is a legend that has been passed down about Tet Doan Ngo. In the past, there was an old man named Doi Truan who helped farmers overcome the problem of worms in the crop by setting up a simple offering with ashes, fruits, then doing exercises in front of his house, and in the blink of an eye, the worms were gone. Afterwards, he advised the people to follow what he had instructed, and the worms would be gone every year.
To commemorate this, the people designated Tet Doan Ngo as “the festival to kill worms” and this is also an occasion to worship the ancestors that has been passed down to this day. On the other hand, Tet Doan Ngo is called “the festival to kill worms” because during the transitional period, diseases are likely to occur. The ritual is like a way to eliminate “worms”, drive away diseases…
In addition to preventing pests and diseases, people also believe that offering food and objects to ancestors on this day aims to pray for a prosperous season.
In 2023, Tet Doan Ngo on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month will fall on Monday, June 10, 2024.
In 2024, Tet Doan Ngo on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month will fall on Monday, June 10, 2024
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2. Traditional Tray of Tét Offering for Doan Ngọ
According to tradition, the tray of offering to ancestors on Doan Ngọ Tet includes fruits such as jackfruit and plum; sticky rice wine, gio cake (…). In addition, the host should also prepare incense, flowers, gold paper and depending on the culture and customs of each region, the offering tray may also include duck meat and floating rice balls.
Traditional Tray of Tết Offering for Doan Ngọ in the North
Sticky rice wine is also a special dish on this day, the ancients believed that sticky rice wine had the ability to kill worms in the body, making them unable to harm the human body anymore.
Especially in the North, sticky rice wine with yellow flower is considered because it is not available and delicious everywhere like in the North, so this is a must-have dish in the tray of offering in the North. In addition, in some places, there is also purple sticky rice wine.
Tro cake is a type of cake made from soaked sticky rice in ashes, wrapped in banana leaves. This is an easy-to-eat cake, easy to digest, and has a delicious taste when eaten with sugar or honey. According to ancestors, sticky rice when cooked in leaves will absorb the characteristics of plants, help cool the body, treat diseases in the body.
Traditional Tray of Tết Offering for Doan Ngọ in the North
Traditional Tray of Tết Offering for Doan Ngọ in the Central
In addition to the required items, the offering tray in the Central also includes other dishes such as:
Rice wine.
Rice wine in the Central is fermented in a traditional way, in small square pieces, soft and well done from the inside out.
Duck meat
The Central region prefers duck meat because it is believed that duck meat has the ability to cool and relieve the body, nourish blood and promote better digestion. Besides, this is also the time when duck meat is delicious and fat.
Kê cake
Although not popular in all provinces of the Central, Kê cake is very popular in the Tết Doan ngọ offering tray of Quang Nam. Kê cake is cooked with ke nuts until soft, sweet, and fragrant.
Kê cakes are often found in the Central Tet Doan Ngọ offering tray
Traditional Tray of Tết Offering for Doan Ngọ in the South
The offering tray for Tet Doan Ngọ in the South includes not only familiar items but also many other dishes such as:
Rice wine
It is still rice wine but in the South, rice wine is rolled into round pieces and added with sugar syrup, eaten like rice balls in the North.
Banh u Ba Trang
This dish is similar to “tro” cake but bigger, made from sticky rice stuffed with filling, then boiled or steamed. Banh u Ba Trang can be wrapped in lotus leaves, banana leaves, … and each type of leaf will give the cake a different flavor.
Chè trôi nước
Chè trôi nước in the South are round balls made from white glutinous rice flour with a mung bean filling. In the South, the dessert is eaten with sugar syrup and coconut milk with the meaning of being able to ward off worms.
In the South, families often choose to buy more jackfruit to display on the offering tray to make it more beautiful.
Chè trôi nước is usually found in the Southern Tet Doan Ngọ offering tray
3. Tết Doan Ngọ Family Worship
People light 9 candles, light 9 incense sticks, bow down 9 times and recite the following prayer:
“I respectfully bow with a sincere heart to invite my parents, grandparents, ancestors both paternal and maternal, today is the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, Tet Doan Ngọ, year (current time) during the dragon hour of noon, the perfect hour, we sincerely prepare offerings, money, gold, incense to invite our parents, grandparents, ancestors, and spirits to attend and bear witness to our sincere hearts.
We respectfully invite our parents, grandparents, ancestors, and spirits to bless us during Tet Doan Ngọ, grant us all good fortune, bless the souls of our ancestors to rest peacefully in the heavenly realm. We pray that our parents, grandparents, ancestors, and spirits protect and support us. We pray for wealth and fortune to come. We pray for blessings and prosperity. We pray for good fortune and longevity. May all our endeavors be successful in life.
We have a sincere heart to follow the rituals and sincerely invite our ancestors to bear witness.
We give our heartfelt thanks.
We give our heartfelt thanks.
We give our heartfelt thanks.”
Families perform worship on Tết Đoan Ngọ day
4. Outdoor Worship on Tết Đoan Ngọ
Light 9 candles, 9 incense sticks, and recite this prayer:
“Light the candles and recite the prayer. Light up the heart, radiating light. Clear the mind and body. Remove worries and troubles. Great souls illuminate. Brilliance shining through. Spirits certify. Light up the incense and recite the prayer. Preserve blessings in the highest place. Fulfilled air in the realm. Divine entities unite. Observe the moon palace. Spiritual excellence appears. Law reveals a thousand clouds. Nourished fields gather and unite. Ritual follows destiny. Inform the divine beings.”
Kneel down in worship 9 times. Pray:
“I respectfully pray with a sincere heart. I bow to the highest divinity. I bow to the Hỗn Côn Master. I bow to the Hong Quan Ancestor. I bow to the Jade Emperor, the Eastern Blue Emperor, the Southern Cardinal Emperor, the Western White Emperor, the Northern Black Emperor. I bow to the Celestial Sergeant General, the Black-Magic-Remover Sergeant General, the Teachings-and-Living Sergeant General. I bow to the Three Pure Masters, the Original Will, the Moral Will, the Sacred Treasure Will. I bow to the Supreme Fighting Deities, the Nine Heavenly Mysterious Goddesses, the Great Senior General Who Abides in Heaven. I bow to the truest Sovereign who governs everything. I bow to the Brigadier, Major, and Captain gods.
Today is the day of Tet Doan Ngọ, a joined celebration of heaven and earth. I sincerely prepare offerings, money, gold, incense, to invite the mighty gods and divine beings, humbly ask for their guidance for the whole human world to be liberated from all difficulties. May all monsters, demons not harm the mortal world; may the crop be abundant, and all living beings enjoy great blessings. Those who are good to the people and the country, who are righteous, who do not harm, will have a longer life, accumulate blessings and be granted wealth, success, fortune, and smooth sailing in all undertakings according to their wishes.
We pray to the Supreme Deity, the Jade Emperor, and all the mighty gods to bestow great blessings on our ancestors’ souls, and let them ascend to the heavenly realm to enjoy great blessings.
We pray to the Supreme Deity, the Jade Emperor, and all the mighty gods for the court to enlighten, decree kindness and consider granting liberation to the whole human world. We pray for divine prefectures, divine soldiers, divine horses to deal with evil, unrighteous people in the human world, and punish evil spirits, demons, and monsters that harm crops.
We sincerely pray that the Supreme Deity, the Jade Emperor, and all the mighty gods bless us with prosperity and fortune, blessings and peace. May the human world receive the favor of the divine, bring blessings to all families, and prosperity to the nation. May the teachings be widespread, and wisdom expand. May all beings within the Three Realms receive divine love and admiration.
We give our thanks.
We give our thanks.
We give our thanks.”
Outdoor Worship on Tết Đoan Ngọ
5. Văn khấn Tết Đoan Ngọ theo văn khấn cổ truyền Việt Nam
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
I respectfully bow to the nine heavens, the ten directions, the ten directions bow to the nine heavens, the nine heavens bow to the ten directions.
– I respectfully bow to the King of Heaven and Earth, the spirits of the Earth Lords.
– I respectfully bow to the Lord of the Soil, the Earth God, the Soil Deities, and the Earth God Family.
– I respectfully bow to the Ancestors, the Royal Parents, the Loyal Aunt, and the Spirits (if parents are still alive, replace with Royal Ancestor, Maternal Ancestor).
Name of faithful follower is: …………………………………………….
Resides at: ……………………………………………….. with the whole family.
I respectfully prepare incense, flowers, offerings, fruits, and other offerings, and place them on the altar.
I respectfully invite the spirits who govern this area.
I respectfully invite my ancestors, spirits of the family both living and deceased.
I kindly ask for the compassion of the spirits for the faithful follower.
Protection for the whole family, all matters go smoothly,
Eight seasons without hindrance, eight periods enjoy peace and prosperity,
Abundant fortune, flourishing career, heart and goodness open,
May everything you desire come true, and all wishes be fulfilled.
Please keep in mind!
Lễ cúng Đoan Ngọ
6. Văn khấn lễ gia tiên
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
I respectfully bow to the nine heavens, the ten directions, the ten directions bow to the nine heavens, and the nine heavens bow to the ten directions.
I respectfully bow to the King of Heaven and Earth, the spirits of the Earth Lords.
I respectfully bow to the Dong Tru Tu mệnh Earth God, the five elements of the earth, the Thần quân Tâo Phủ Divine Army, Earth, Dragon Veins, Fortune God.
I respectfully bow to all the deities who rule over this land.
I humbly ask for your compassion, deities.
May you appear before the altar to be a witness to a sincere heart.
Support the faithful follower and the whole family, bring luck, and create a good destiny.
May everyone be safe and sound, all things go smoothly,
The eight seasons are not limited, the eight solar periods enjoy peace and prosperity,
Abundance and prosperity, a heart pursuing the way;
I pray for all benefactors to be appointed by officials, and for all urgent matters to be fulfilled i
Please be careful!
Văn khấn lễ gia tiên
7. Văn khấn cầu xin Ngọc Hoàng Đại Đế và Thần Tiên
Light 9 candles, 9 incense sticks, and recite a prayer:
“Light the candles and recite the prayer. Light up the heart, radiating light. Clear the mind and body. Remove worries and troubles. Great souls illuminate. Brilliance shining through. Spirits certify. Light up the incense and recite the prayer. Preserve blessings in the highest place. Fulfilled air in the realm. Divine entities unite. Observe the moon palace. Spiritual excellence appears. Law reveals a thousand clouds. Nourished fields gather and unite. Ritual follows destiny. Inform the divine beings.”
Kneel down in worship 9 times. Pray:
“I respectfully pray with a sincere heart. I bow to the Supreme Deity. I bow to the Hôn Côn Master. I bow to the Hong Quan Ancestor. I bow to the Jade Emperor, the Eastern Blue Emperor, the Southern Cardinal Emperor, the Western White Emperor, the Northern Black Emperor. I bow to the Celestial Sergeant General, the Black-Magic-Remover Sergeant General, the Teachings-and-Living Sergeant General. I bow to the Three Pure Masters, the Original Will,
