New Year’s Eve is a sacred moment, the transition between the old year and the new year. According to the beliefs of the Vietnamese people, there are certain rituals that need to be performed for a peaceful and lucky new year. According to the wisdom of the ancients: “On New Year’s Eve, the house must not be empty, and the new year will be prosperous and abundant.”
1. No darkness on New Year’s Eve
This saying means that on New Year’s Eve, the house needs to be lit all night until dawn. This is because light symbolizes a beautiful and bright new year, implying that family life in the new year will also be radiant, without darkness, and full of positive energy. Furthermore, light also symbolizes strong masculine energy, which signifies good health and happiness. This is very important and something that everyone looks forward to.
According to the ancients, bright lights bring fortune. Lighting up the darkness on New Year’s Eve dispels any misfortune and welcomes a peaceful new year. Therefore, the elderly believe that on New Year’s Eve, the house must be brightly lit to create a warm and cozy atmosphere.
2. No empty food containers on New Year’s Eve
Food is the most important thing for people. For common people, having enough to eat is the most important thing. This means that on New Year’s Eve, the house must be filled with food, the pot full of food, and the kitchen warm and the refrigerator abundant. This way, in the new year, the family will have enough food, clothing, and a comfortable and prosperous life.
If the pot is empty and the kitchen is empty on New Year’s Eve, it will affect the family’s fortune in the new year. Some cautious families not only store food in the pot and refrigerator but also fill rice containers and have fish in the pot to demonstrate abundance. Therefore, on New Year’s Eve, you should fill the rice containers and have food in the house. The kitchen must always have a fire burning to attract wealth and blessings. Life will get better and better in the coming year.
3. No empty house on New Year’s Eve
This means that on New Year’s Eve, the family should have people, the warmth of human presence, and family gatherings. If the house is empty, it will give everyone a feeling of loneliness. An empty house like that will prevent blessings, warmth, and good luck from coming in the new year.
If there is no person and no warmth from the kitchen on New Year’s Eve, blessings will disappear and some misfortunes will remain in the house, affecting the fortune of the entire year.
When there are people in the house, fireworks should be set off to welcome good luck. If there are no people and no fireworks, blessings will disappear and some misfortunes will remain in the house, affecting the fortune of the entire year. If the family is harmonious, laughing and cheerful, with fireworks filling the house, you can maintain luck and blessings in the house, and your life will become smoother and you will even encounter many good things. Therefore, on New Year’s Eve, children and grandchildren should gather, eat, and share joy with each other during the Lunar New Year so that the new year will be happy, joyful, and warm.
These “three things that should not be empty on New Year’s Eve” are actually the expectations of people through generations for a new year with abundant and prosperous life, happy and loving family relationships. No matter how long it has been, these things are never outdated.