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The Táo Welcoming Ritual: A Traditional Vietnamese Ceremony on the Eve of Tết

Legend has it that the Kitchen God returns to heaven for seven days, from the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year to the 30th. Be sure to refer to the prayer for the Kitchen God's return on New Year's Eve to welcome in the new year with blessings and good fortune.

Administrator

10 July, 2024

Legend has it that the Kitchen God returns to heaven for seven days, from the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month to the 30th of Tet. On this day, we cannot miss the ceremony to welcome him back. Check out this article to learn more about the ritual and prayers for welcoming the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet to celebrate the New Year!

1. Why do we need to perform a ritual to welcome the Kitchen God back on the 30th of Tet?

According to our ancestors’ traditions, after a year of overseeing affairs in the mortal realm, the Kitchen God will ride a carp to heaven to report on the events of the past year on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month (the 23rd of December in the lunar calendar). This is why we have a ceremony to send him off.

Usually, the Kitchen God returns to heaven for seven days (from the 23rd to the 30th of the twelfth lunar month) to report to the Jade Emperor on the events of the past year. Therefore, in addition to the ceremony to send him off on the 23rd of Tet, each household also performs a ritual to welcome him back on the 30th of the twelfth lunar month.

Another belief suggests that there is no specific date for welcoming the Kitchen God back, and it depends on the annual work schedule of the Heavenly Court. If the work is finished early, he returns early, and the Kitchen God returns to the mortal realm when the Jade Emperor closes the “Heavenly Court’s affairs.”

Why do we need to welcome the Kitchen God back on the 30th of Tet?

Note: Depending on regional customs and cultural practices, the day of welcoming the Kitchen God may vary. For example, in Central Vietnam, the ceremony can be held on the 7th of Tet, which falls on the 16th of February 2024 in the solar calendar, coinciding with the New Year thanksgiving ceremony.

2. Auspicious date and time for the ritual to welcome the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

According to folk beliefs, the most auspicious time to welcome the Kitchen God back is at noon (from 11 am to 1 pm), also known as the hour of the Long Ma (Horse turning into a Dragon).

The best time to welcome the Kitchen God back is between 11 pm and 11:45 pm on New Year’s Eve (the 29th or 30th of Tet, depending on whether it is a leap month or not).

Auspicious time to welcome the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

3. Ritual to welcome the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

Offerings for the ritual to welcome the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

The offerings for welcoming the Kitchen God are similar to those for sending him off. They include the following:

1 plate of five fruits
1 plate of betel and areca nuts
3 small cups of wine
1 fried carp (or live carp)
1 bowl of mushroom soup
1 plate of stir-fried mixed vegetables
1 plate of boiled chicken
1 plate of sticky rice cakes
1 plate of boiled pork
1 pot of tea
1 small pot of peach blossoms
1 small pot of chrysanthemums
1 pack of paper money and votive paper
500 grams of boiled pork
1 pomelo
1 areca nut, betel leaves, and lime

Offerings for welcoming the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

Prayers for welcoming the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

We respectfully bow to the nine heavens, the ten directions of the Buddha, and the ten directions of the Buddha.

We respectfully bow to the Future Buddha Maitreya.

We respectfully bow to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who saves suffering beings.

We respectfully bow to the Emperor of Heaven, the Empress of Earth, and the deities.

We respectfully bow to the former year’s presiding deity: (1)

We respectfully bow to the current year’s presiding deity: (2)

We respectfully bow to the deities of the Five Directions, the Five Tigers, the Dragon Vein, the Kitchen God, and other deities.

Today is the New Year’s Eve of the year… (name of the lunar year), and we are…, born in…, currently residing at…

As the sacred New Year’s Eve moment arrives, the old year passes, and we welcome the new year with the hope of prosperity and renewal. Now, the Tai Sui deity, under the command of the Jade Emperor, supervises the people and protects the living while expelling evil spirits. The old deity returns to the court, leaving blessings and grace. The new deity descends, embodying filial piety and bestowing fortune and prosperity.

On this New Year’s occasion, we sincerely prepare incense, flowers, and offerings and respectfully invite the Buddhas, Saints, and deities to accept our humble offerings. We light incense and sincerely invite: the former presiding deity, the current presiding deity, the Tai Sui deity, the City God, the local Earth God and福德正神, the deities of the Five Directions, the Five Soils, the Dragon Vein, the Wealth God, the Kitchen God, and other deities presiding over this place to descend and enjoy our offerings.

We pray for good fortune and safety in the coming year and prosperity and harmony in our family.

We respectfully offer these sacrifices and sincerely pray. We beseech the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of the Buddha, and the deities to bear witness and bestow their blessings. Namo Amitabha Buddha! (say three times and bow three times).

Prayers for welcoming the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

Note: (1) and (2) are the names of the presiding deities of the old and new years, respectively. You can refer to the following for accuracy:

Year of the Rat: Chu Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Thirty-Six Stars, and the judge of the Liu曹.
Year of the Ox: Zhao Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Wooden Star, and the judge of the Qu曹.
Year of the Tiger: Wei Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Stone Star, and the judge of the Liu曹.
Year of the Rabbit: Zheng Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Fire Star, and the judge of the Biao曹.
Year of the Dragon: Wu Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Heavenly Dog, and the judge of the Xu曹.
Year of the Snake: Qin Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Heavenly Cat, and the judge of the Yu曹.
Year of the Horse: Qin Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Heavenly Horse, and the judge of the Yu曹.
Year of the Goat: Song Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Five Paths, and the judge of the Lin曹.
Year of the Monkey: Qi Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Five Temples, and the judge of the Song曹.
Year of the Rooster: Lu Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Five Peaks, and the judge of the Ju曹.
Year of the Dog: Viet Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Heavenly Dog, and the judge of the Cheng曹.
Year of the Pig: Liu Wang, who wields the power of the hour, the deity of the Five Warmths, and the judge of the Nguyen曹.

Procedure for the ritual to welcome the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

The offerings for welcoming the Kitchen God should be placed in the kitchen, and the stove should be turned on during the ritual. The offerings should be arranged neatly and abundantly to ensure a warm and prosperous year for the family.

Arrange the offerings on a platter in a direction favorable to the host.
The host lights incense in the bowl of rice and begins reciting the prayers to welcome the Kitchen God back on Tet.
After the prayers, the host waits for the incense to burn out before performing the ritual of burning votive paper.

How to welcome the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet

4. Welcoming the Kitchen God back on the 30th of Tet in the solar calendar, 2024

Welcoming the Kitchen God back on the 30th of Tet in the solar calendar, 2024

Traditionally, people perform a ritual to welcome the Kitchen God back on the 30th of Tet. If there is no 30th, the ceremony is held on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month.

In 2024, the day to welcome the Kitchen God back will fall on February 9, 2024 (the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, 2023)

For reference: The most accurate Tet holiday schedule for 2024

The above are the prayers for welcoming the Kitchen God on the 30th of Tet to celebrate the New Year. We hope you find this article helpful!

Frequently asked questions

The Táo Welcoming Ritual is a traditional Vietnamese ceremony that takes place on the eve of Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It is a way to honor and welcome the Kitchen God (Ong Tao), who is believed to be the messenger between the Earth and Heaven.

The ritual is steeped in cultural and spiritual significance. Vietnamese families perform this ceremony to show respect and gratitude to the Kitchen God for watching over the household and its activities throughout the year. It is believed that Ong Tao returns to Heaven on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month to report to the Jade Emperor on the family’s behavior.

The ceremony involves offering sacrifices and prayers to Ong Tao. Families prepare a special altar with fruits, flowers, incense, and a carp-shaped paper tree. They burn fake money and other symbolic items as offerings. A prominent part of the ritual is the reading of a farewell letter to the Kitchen God, expressing gratitude and requesting his favor in reporting only good things about the family.

The carp, or ‘Ca Chong’, is a symbolic element in Vietnamese folklore. It represents good luck, success, and the aspiration to overcome obstacles. The paper tree is often decorated with bright colors and intricate designs, and it serves as a visual offering to the Kitchen God.

After the ceremony, the offerings are burned, and families believe that Ong Tao rides the paper carp to Heaven. They then clean the altar and prepare for the New Year festivities, hoping for good fortune and blessings in the coming year.