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The ceremony on New Year's Day holds great significance; meticulous preparation is necessary to express gratitude to ancestors and deities, seeking their blessings to make the new year smoother and more fortunate. While preparing the ceremony, remember to include a New Year's Day invocation to demonstrate your gratitude and remembrance towards ancestors.
Invocation for the morning ceremony on New Year's Day
1. Why is it essential to prepare a New Year's Day invocation?
In addition to preparing the ceremonial feast and lighting incense, the invocation is a crucial aspect to prepare, aiding in expressing sincere reverence and solemnity towards ancestors and divine spirits.
The invocation typically includes the place of residence, date, purpose of the ceremony, and the intended recipients of the offerings. According to our ancestors, reciting the invocation also helps ancestors and divine spirits understand who is making the offering and for what purpose. Without preparing the invocation, the one conducting the ceremony may easily become confused, recite inaccurately, and lack clarity. This can result in the ritual not being conducted with the desired solemnity.
2. Ceremonial Offerings on New Year's Day
Celebrating New Year's Day with ceremonial offerings is equally important as the New Year's Eve feast. The specific rituals on the first day may vary depending on each family and region.
The ceremonial offerings include:
- A savory feast with items like boiled chicken, sticky rice, cured meat, sausages, fried spring rolls...
- Lamps and candles.
- Wine.
- Betel leaves and areca nuts.
- Five fruits.
- Incense and fresh flowers.
Essential dishes like boiled chicken, bamboo shoot soup, pork skin, cured meat, sausages, and square sticky rice cakes cannot be omitted from the New Year's Day feast. In the Northern region, there is also a plate of pickled onions. In the Southern region, there is the addition of pickled vegetables.
Once all the dishes for the ceremonial feast are prepared, the host will present them on the ancestral altar. Subsequently, the host will make offerings, bow in respect, and recite the New Year's Day invocation to invite ancestors and divine spirits to partake in the meal, bearing witness to the sincerity of the descendants.
The New Year's Day ceremonial table adorned with a variety of fruits and traditional Tet dishes, ensuring a festive and bountiful start to the year.
There are numerous invocations for New Year's Day ceremonies, including those performed at home, in temples, invocations for the God of Wealth on the first day, and invocations for ancestors. Therefore, it's essential to prepare a suitable New Year's Day invocation for the ritual.
* Invocation for the God of Wealth on New Year's Day
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)
I humbly bow to the nine heavens, ten Buddha realms, and the ten directions of Buddhas.
I pay my respects to the Future Buddha, Lord Maitreya.
I pay homage to the Buddha of Heaven, the Empress of the Earth.
Today is the 1st day of the Lunar New Year, heralding the arrival of spring. Dispelling the cold winter wind, vanquishing all malevolent forces, celebrating the Lunar New Year with heavenly joy, permeating moisture, and rejuvenating all things.
In every ritual and corner,
I, the faithful devotee, residing at .................................................................................
Offer heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity, expressing gratitude to ancestors and divine spirits. May the new year be filled with blessings and auspiciousness.
* Family Ancestral Invocation on New Year's Day
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times, 3 bows)
I humbly bow to the nine heavens, ten Buddha realms, and the ten directions of Buddhas.
I pay homage to the Future Buddha, Lord Maitreya.
I respectfully bow to our ancestors, paternal and maternal relatives, elder siblings, and all ancestral spirits, both within and outside the family.
Today is the 1st day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Ox.
We, the descendants, are:......
Residing at:........................
Following cosmic law, the balance of yin and yang, as we enter the week of Lunar New Year, the first day of spring, with gentle rain embracing the atmosphere, heralding the arrival of the new year.
We, the descendants, deeply cherish the grace of our ancestors as vast as the sky and ocean, not forgetting a single blade of grass in gratitude for three generations.
Therefore, collectively, we, the descendants, enhance the ceremonial offerings, offering fragrant incense, expressing heartfelt gratitude in front of the altar.
We respectfully invite our venerable ancestors, elder relatives, younger siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, both male and female, inside and outside the family, to bestow compassion upon us, safeguarding and supporting the descendants. May the new year be peaceful, prosperous, and all endeavors be successful, with no interference in any of the four seasons or eight periods.
* Buddhist Temple Invocation - New Year's Day Invocation
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (Recite 3 times)
I bow to the nine heavens, ten Buddha realms, and the ten directions of Buddhas.
Today is the ......... day of the ......... month, in the Year of Canh Ty.
The faithful devotee is ......................
Residing at ...........................
With the entire family, we sincerely stand before the Great Temple, at the ......... Temple, offering fragrant incense, devoutly paying homage:
The Buddha Shakyamuni, Amitabha Buddha, the ten directions of Buddhas, the supreme Buddha Dharma, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and the noble Sangha.
Long-time disciples with karmic burdens, entangled in delusions.
Today, in front of the Buddha's altar, with repentant hearts, vowing to abstain from wrongdoing, aspiring to virtuous deeds, seeking the grace of the Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and the noble Sangha. May our minds be free from worries, bodies free from illness, diligently following the Buddha's teachings daily for the sake of universal enlightenment and perpetual blessings.
May this act of salvation extend to parents, siblings, relatives, and all sentient beings, leading them to the path of Buddhahood.
With heartfelt prayers, we bow and seek confirmation.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (Recite 3 times)
* Earth Deity Invocation on New Year's Day
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)
I bow to the nine heavens, ten Buddha realms, and the ten directions of Buddhas.
I pay respects to the Future Buddha, Lord Maitreya.
I bow to the Buddha in heaven, the Empress of the Earth.
I bow to the revered Deity Lords.
Today is the 1st day of the Lunar New Year, in the Year of the Ox. On this auspicious day, dispelling the cold winter wind, vanquishing malevolent forces, welcoming the Lunar New Year with heavenly joy, permeating moisture, and renewing all things.
In every festive location and corner,
The faithful devotee is ............. Residing at .................................
In this auspicious lunar new year, we arrange offerings of incense, flowers, and ceremonial dishes, presenting them before the altar, offering to the Earth Deities.
We sincerely believe in the grandeur and virtuous aura of the Earth Deities. Elevated and mighty, they manifest in all ten directions. Our sincere hearts rise, honoring their virtue and compassion.
We humbly beseech their presence, seeking confirmation of our sincere devotion.
May we, along with all people, rejoice in good fortune, and may our descendants thrive.
We implore the benevolence of the Earth Deities, safeguarding our faith, bestowing familial blessings, removing obstacles. In the beginning and middle of the year, may all endeavors be prosperous and fulfill our aspirations.
We, with sincere reverence, bow and seek the confirmation of the honored Deities.
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)
4. Auspicious Practices on the 1st Day of Tet
The 1st day of Tet marks the beginning of the new year. According to popular beliefs, a fortunate start on this day brings luck and prosperity throughout the year. Therefore, people aspire to engage in auspicious activities on the 1st day to ensure a year of peace and good fortune.
To initiate the 1st day of the lunar new year with good fortune, consider these practices:
- Maintain a cheerful and relaxed spirit.
- Exchange red envelopes (li xi) and share meaningful Tet wishes for good luck.
- Visit the pagoda on New Year's Day, dressing appropriately, showing respect, and solemnity.
- Avoid sweeping, scattering, or breaking things on the 1st day.
- Enjoy traditional Tet dishes.
- Refrain from using fire.
Depending on the ceremonial customs, prepare a suitable invocation for the 1st day of Tet. Additionally, arrange appropriate fruits for the offering to enhance the solemnity and reverence of the ceremony. Wishing you and your family a joyous and prosperous Tet celebration.
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Each day of the lunar new year requires a distinct invocation. Therefore, in addition to the invocation for the 1st day of Tet, make sure to prepare invocations for the 2nd and 3rd days as well as the ceremonial invocation for prosperity.
- Explore more: Invocation for the 2nd Day of Tet
- Explore more: Invocation for the 3rd Day of Tet
