The Full Moon of January is not only the first Full Moon but also considered as the Lantern Festival, believed to be a special day with a bright full moon in the year. The Full Moon of January in folk culture and spiritual belief is a suitable day to pray for blessings and wish for peace. Cung rằm tháng Giêng (worshipping during the Full Moon of January) is not only a time to give thanks and ask for the blessings of the Gods, skies, and earth, but also a good time to wish for well-being for family, loved ones, secure and peaceful friends, for the country to be safe and prosperous, and also a time to gaze at the clear moon to calm the mind and nurture a good soul to do good deeds.
When should you worship during the Full Moon of January?
The Full Moon of January in the Year of the Snake 2024 falls on February 24, 2024, which is a Saturday. This is an auspicious day because it falls on a weekend. The best time for worshipping during the Full Moon of January 2024 is: the Hour of the Horse (11am-1pm), especially the Horse hour.
According to ancient customs, worshipping during the Full Moon of January on the Full Moon day, the Horse hour (from 11am to 1pm) is the best time. According to folk beliefs, this time frame is the time when Buddha descended to earth, bestowing blessings on the sincere hearts of the homeowners.
Of course, in addition to this time frame, homeowners can worship starting from the 14th lunar day to before 7pm on the 15th day of January.
Below are some auspicious time frames for performing the ritual of worshipping during the Full Moon of January 2024 that homeowners can choose to do, in accordance with the conditions of the family.
Auspicious time for worshipping during the Full Moon of January 2024 on the Full Moon day of January 15:
Ất Mão (5am-7am)
Mậu Ngọ (11am-1pm), considered the most auspicious
Canh Thân (3pm-5pm)
Tân Dậu (5pm-7pm)
Auspicious time for worshipping during the Full Moon of January 2024 on the 14th day of January, which is February 23, 2024 according to the Gregorian calendar:
Giáp Thìn (7am-9am)
Bính Ngọ (11am-1pm)
Đinh Mùi (1pm-3pm)
Canh Tuất (7pm-9pm)
Precautions when worshipping during the Full Moon of January
If salt is used in the ritual, according to Vietnamese tradition, there must be a rooster with a rose in its beak, symbolizing solemnity and connecting with the divine. The rooster does not need to be too big, but it must be of good quality, as the rooster often represents celestial beings with a rose in its beak.
Sticky rice should be made with red sticky rice and green beans, symbolizing good luck and fortune.
Homeowners should tidy up their minds and bodies before worshipping.
Homeowners should worship at home and then go to the pagoda, do virtuous deeds to accumulate merits, and can release lives, release floating lanterns…
This information is for reference only.
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