The Mid-Autumn Festival is not only known as a day for Vietnamese children to play, but the worship trays for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month are also of great importance. Worshipping on this day is an ancient cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, showing reverence and care for ancestors, as well as an opportunity to prepare offerings to pray for fortune, peace, and health. Try worshipping in this way, and your wishes will come true!
1 The Most Traditional Worship Tray for the 15th Day of the 8th Lunar Month
What does the worship tray for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month include?
Depending on the customs of each locality or the lifestyle of each family, the worship tray for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month may vary slightly. However, generally, a worship tray for this occasion will consist of:
- Incense
- A bouquet of fresh flowers
- Candles or lamps
- Sticky rice
- A plate of fruits
- Mooncakes
- A boiled chicken
- Rice and salt
Worship tray for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month
How to arrange the worship tray for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month
Each region will have different ways of decorating and arranging the worship tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival
Each region will have its own unique way of decorating and arranging the worship tray for the Mid-Autumn Festival, but you should ensure that the following items are included:
- Incense, flowers, candles or lamps, sticky rice, chicken, rice, and salt.
- Mooncakes and soft cakes
- Fruits of the season and a star-shaped lantern
The way of arranging the five fruits also depends on the region and customs.
- In the North, people often use bananas, pomelos, peaches, apples, and oranges for decoration.
- In the South, people prefer more colorful fruits such as papaya, custard apple, coconut, mango, and jujube.
Although the types of fruits may vary, they should be arranged harmoniously to create an aesthetically pleasing, vibrant, and impressive display.
2 The Worship Tray for Moon Gazing on the Mid-Autumn Festival
The worship tray for moon gazing on the Mid-Autumn Festival includes both unripe and ripe fruits to symbolize the harmony between yin and yang and the balance between heaven and earth, according to folk beliefs. Here is a list of fruits commonly used for this occasion:
- A bunch of ripe bananas
- Pomelo (symbolizing good omens)
- Apple (representing abundance)
- Custard apple (symbolizing fertility)
- Pomegranate (representing luck)
In addition, the worship tray for moon gazing also includes various candies and snacks, especially mooncakes and soft cakes, as well as traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys such as star-shaped lanterns, military lanterns, and masks.
The worship tray for moon gazing on the Mid-Autumn Festival
3 Worshipping on the 15th Day of the 8th Lunar Month
What is the best time to worship on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month?
The Mid-Autumn Festival, according to ancient beliefs, means “the middle of autumn”
The Mid-Autumn Festival, according to ancient beliefs, means “the middle of autumn”, indicating not only that half of the autumn season has passed but also signaling the end of the harvest season and the perfect time to hold worship ceremonies and celebrations.
Nowadays, the Mid-Autumn Festival is usually celebrated on the day of the brightest full moon of the year, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. To find out the exact date of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Gregorian calendar, simply check the lunar calendar for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month and note the corresponding day, date, and month.
According to the calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2023 will fall on Friday, September 29th in the Gregorian calendar (15/08/2023 in the lunar calendar). So, let’s start preparing the worship tray for this special day!
For reference:
Preparing a worship tray for the God of Wealth alongside the ancestral worship tray is essential on the 15th day of the lunar month
In folk beliefs, the God of Wealth brings good luck in business and career, attracting more opportunities and blessings. Therefore, preparing a worship tray for the God of Wealth alongside the ancestral worship tray is a must during the 15th day of the lunar month, especially on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
According to ancient customs, the gods usually dine early, so it is important to determine whether to worship in the morning or in the evening.
You can choose to worship either in the evening of the 14th day or the evening of the 15th day of the lunar month: Complete the worship before 6:00 – 7:00 PM. Alternatively, you can worship in the morning of the 15th day: Complete the worship before 9:00 – 10:00 AM.
The worship tray for the God of Wealth on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month does not need to be as elaborate as the ones prepared for the 1st day or the 7th day of the lunar month. A simple yet sufficient and well-prepared tray is essential to avoid displeasing the gods. So, how should the worship tray for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month be arranged?
Incantation for Worshipping on the 15th Day of the 8th Lunar Month (based on “Van khan co truyen Viet Nam” – Ancient Vietnamese Incantations – published by Van hoa Thong tin Publishing House)
The standard incantation for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month
The following incantation, (based on “Van khan co truyen Viet Nam” – Ancient Vietnamese Incantations – published by Van hoa Thong tin Publishing House), is commonly used during the 15th day of the 8th lunar month:
– We respectfully bow to the Supreme God, the Earth God, and all other deities.
– We respectfully bow to the Local Deities, the Land God, and the Kitchen God, along with all other deities.
– We respectfully bow to our ancestors: Paternal and maternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Your humble servants are:………………………………….Age:……………………….
Residing at:………………………………………………………………………………….
Today is the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival. We, your humble servants, have prepared incense, flowers, tea, and fruits as offerings and have lit this heartful incense to invite your presence.
We respectfully invite the Local Deities, the Five Directions Gods, the Dragon God, and the God of Wealth to descend upon this altar and witness our sincerity and accept our offerings.
We respectfully invite our ancestors: Paternal and maternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other deceased family members of the………………family, to show mercy and grace, witness our sincerity, and accept our offerings.
We, your humble servants, also invite the previous and current owners of this house and land to join us in this ceremony and enjoy the offerings. May you bless us with good health, peace, and prosperity. May we be free from disasters and enjoy a prosperous life.
Our offerings may be simple, but our hearts are sincere. We bow before this altar and hope that you will protect and bless us.
Respectfully announced!
For reference:
With the information provided above, you can confidently prepare and arrange the worship tray for the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. However, the worship ceremony does not have to strictly follow the information in this article. You can make adjustments according to your religious beliefs or family customs.
Wishing you a happy and joyful Mid-Autumn Festival!
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