The Hoan Than Hong ritual is an important tradition in Vietnamese culture, equivalent to the significance of the three worship ceremonies held on the 15th day of the lunar month, the Kitchen God ceremony, and the New Year Eve ceremony. Read on to learn more about this unique practice.
1 What is the Hoan Than Hong ritual?
Hoan Than Hong ritual
The Hoan Than Hong ritual, also known as the Offering Ceremony to the Gods, the Ritual of Transforming the Gods’ Images on the Altar, or simply the Thanksgiving Ceremony, is a practice of showing gratitude to the deities for their blessings throughout the year.
Hoan Than Hong specifically refers to the custom of transforming and offering to the gods the various talismans, amulets, and divine images that have been displayed or used during the passing year. These items are believed to bring protection, good fortune, and prosperity to the family.
Did you know: The most auspicious time for wealth and luck in the year of the Rabbit 2023?
2 When is the Hoan Than Hong ritual performed?
Appropriate day for the Hoan Than Hong ritual
Traditionally, the Hoan Than Hong ritual was performed on a specific day in the twelfth lunar month, usually around the 10th, 13th, 19th, or 21st. The date was flexible and depended on the family’s circumstances and convenience.
However, in modern times, with busier lifestyles, it has become common to combine this ritual with the Kitchen God ceremony on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. As a result, the significance of the Hoan Than Hong ritual has somewhat faded from people’s memory.
Nevertheless, even today, many families continue the tradition of cleaning the ancestral altar and trimming the incense sticks on the 23rd, which are remnants of the Hoan Than Hong ritual.
3 Offerings for the Hoan Than Hong ritual
Offerings for the Hoan Than Hong ritual
The offerings for the Hoan Than Hong ritual typically include items such as votive papers, gold ingots, worship paintings, talismans, amulets, and other divine images made of paper or metal that are associated with the passing year. These items are gathered and burned to symbolically get rid of any bad luck from the old year and welcome good fortune in the new year.
Additionally, it is customary to perform a thanksgiving ritual with offerings of flowers and fruits before discarding or replacing old worship items with new ones. This is done to seek permission from the deities and ancestral spirits for the cleaning and replacement of old worship items.
We hope that this article has provided you with valuable insights into the Hoan Than Hong ritual and its importance, which is comparable to the significance of the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.
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