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The Ultimate Guide to the 8th Day of Lunar New Year: Rituals, Offerings, and Prayers

The 8th day of the Lunar New Year is an important day for spiritual practices with a tradition of paying homage to the Nine Lucid Stars. This annual ritual is believed to ward off negative influences and invite positive energy for the year ahead. It is a time to seek guidance and protection from the Nine Divine Beings, who are thought to bestow their blessings upon those who pay their respects.

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11 July, 2024

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Annually, on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year, people hold a ritual called the “Sa Hoi” ceremony, aiming to worship and pray for good luck and fortune for the coming year. Let’s explore the meaning, rituals, and offerings for this unique tradition.

1What is the Sa Hoi Ceremony on the 8th of the Lunar New Year?

According to Vietnamese beliefs, there are nine stars known as the Cuu Dieu Tinh Quan, consisting of three good stars, three bad stars, and three neutral stars:

Three good stars: , , .
Three bad stars: , , .
Three neutral stars: , , .

Each year, a different star is believed to influence an individual’s fortune. To ward off potential misfortunes associated with the bad stars, people hold a ceremony on the 8th day of the first lunar month to reduce the impact of these stars and pray for a smoother year ahead.

For reference:

Sa Hoi Ceremony on the 8th of the Lunar New Year

2How to Perform the Sa Hoi Ceremony at Home in 2024

Offerings for the Ceremony

Incense, candles, and lamps.
Flowers (5 varieties) and fruits.
Gold and silver paper, fake money (10 notes), incense, and candles.
Betel and areca nuts, tea, and water.
Prayer written on paper matching the color of each star.

Offerings for the Sa Hoi Ceremony

Altar Setup for the Ceremony

The altar for the Sa Hoi Ceremony typically includes:

A vase of yellow chrysanthemums.
A plate of seasonal fruits.
Incense and candles.
Gold and silver paper offerings.
Rice and salt.
Alcohol and water.
A plaque with the worshipper’s name and birth date.

Altar Setup for the Sa Hoi Ceremony

Prayer for the Sa Hoi Ceremony

“We respectfully bow to the Nine Directions of Heaven and the Ten Directions of the Buddha.

Homage to the Supreme Emperor of the Golden Palace, the Jade Emperor.

We respectfully bow to the Northern Emperor, the Master of Longevity, the Great Emperor of Zi Wei.

We respectfully bow to the Left and Right Protectors of the Six Ministries, the Star of Longevity.

We respectfully bow to the Northern Dipper, the Ninth Rank Star, the Star of Liberation.

We respectfully bow to the Sun Palace, the Star of the Sun.

We respectfully bow to the Upper Emperor, the Star of the Original Spirit.

We, the believers, are:………………………..age…………………………………………….

Today is the ………… day of the ………… month of the ………… year. We sincerely prepare offerings, incense, flowers, and fruits, and light a heart-incense to set up a spiritual altar at (address)……………………… to perform the ritual of dispelling the ill fate brought by the star………………….. and the limit………………………..

We sincerely pray for your blessings, protection, and help in removing these ill fates. Bestow upon us fortune, longevity, and happiness, and keep us safe from harm and misfortune. May our family be peaceful and prosperous.

With sincerity and respect, we bow before you and ask for your blessings and protection.

Respectfully and humbly, we inform you of this!”

3Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to perform the Sa Hoi Ceremony?

The ideal time for the Sa Hoi Ceremony is at night, between 9 PM and 11 PM.

According to Vietnamese beliefs, these nine stars appear only on specific days of the month. Therefore, the day of worship depends on the appearance of each star:

La Hau Star: Worshipped on the 8th day of the 1st or 7th lunar month.
Ke Do Star: Worshipped on the 18th day of the 1st, 3rd, or 9th lunar month.
Thai Duong Star: Worshipped on the 27th day of each lunar month between 9 PM and 11 PM.
Thai Am Star: Worshipped between 7 PM and 9 PM on the 26th day of each lunar month.
Moc Duc Star (Moc Tinh): Worshipped on the 25th day of each lunar month.
Van Hon Star (Van Han or Hoa Tinh): Worshipped on the 29th day of the 4th or 5th lunar month.
Tho Tu Star (Tho Tinh): Worshipped monthly on the 19th day of the lunar month at 9 PM.
Thai Bach Star (Kim Tinh): Worshipped on the 15th day of each lunar month.
Thuy Dieu Star (Thuy Tinh): Worshipped on the 21st day of the 4th or 8th lunar month.

Ideal time for the Sa Hoi Ceremony

How many candles should be lit for the Sa Hoi Ceremony?

Thai Duong Star: 12 candles.
Thuy Dieu Star: 7 candles.
La Hau Star: 9 candles.
Thai Am Star: 7 candles.
Moc Duc Star: 20 candles.
Thai Bach Star: 8 candles.
Van Hon Star: 15 candles.
Tho Tu Star: 5 candles.
Ke Do Star: 20 candles.

Number of candles for the Sa Hoi Ceremony

This article has provided you with information on the prayer, rituals, and offerings for the Sa Hoi Ceremony on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year. We hope you found it informative and useful.

Frequently asked questions

The 8th day of the Lunar New Year is a significant day in the Vietnamese culture. It is believed that this is the day when the Kitchen God returns to Earth to report on the activities of the household to the Jade Emperor.

Rituals and offerings made on this day include preparing a feast for the Kitchen God, burning fake money, and releasing carp into the lake or sea. People also pray for good health, happiness, and success in the coming year.

The carp release ritual is based on a legend about a carp that swam upstream and transformed into a dragon. It is believed that releasing carp brings good luck and prosperity, as the carp symbolizes perseverance and determination.

Traditional activities during the 8th day of the Lunar New Year include visiting temples, attending cultural events, and spending time with family. People also take part in folk games and enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

In modern times, the 8th day of the Lunar New Year is still celebrated with traditional rituals and offerings. However, there are also contemporary additions such as firework displays, modern folk games, and cultural performances.