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1. Salty Offering Tray
Golden Tet feast isn't complete without the salty offering tray placed on the ancestral altar to honor ancestors. Typically, the dishes vary. You may choose dishes your ancestors enjoyed. Depending on the family's circumstances, the number of dishes may differ. However, here's the full list of essential dishes:
+ Banh Chung: in the Golden Tet feast, people from the North must have Banh Chung. Those from the South replace it with Banh Tet.
Banh Chung holds significant spiritual meaning for Vietnamese people with the story of 'Banh Chung, Banh Day' during the Hung Kings era. Banh Chung, made with characteristic Vietnamese ingredients, symbolizes the filial piety of descendants to their ancestors.
+ Boiled Chicken: According to Vietnamese folklore, chicken symbolizes goodness and luck. Additionally, it represents the five good qualities of Vietnamese people: literacy, martial arts, courage, benevolence, and loyalty.
+ Pork Roll: This is a dish favored by many families on every Tet occasion as well as on regular days. Its delicious aroma makes it popular both hot and cold.
+ Pickled Onions, Pickled Radishes: Green Banh Chung must be served with pickled onions, a long-standing Vietnamese culinary tradition. It's best to soak the pickles for the longest duration possible to enhance their flavor.
2. Vegetarian Altar Tray
In reality, a vegetarian altar tray isn't obligatory for the ancestral worship day. However, based on the family's dietary preferences and ancestral traditions, you may choose between a vegetarian altar tray and a non-vegetarian one. A vegetarian altar tray typically includes: stir-fried vegetables, red sticky rice with green beans, vegetarian mango salad, braised tofu with straw mushrooms, etc.
3. Fruit Tray
Vietnamese believe that a fruit tray with various colors holds Feng Shui significance, bringing luck and prosperity in the new year. The arrangement of fruits may vary depending on regional characteristics.
4. Sugarcane
Sugarcane will be gilded with paper money and gold. Folk belief considers two sugarcane stalks as two carrying poles. When burnt, ancestors will use these poles to carry gold. This is also a weapon against demons if they intend to steal money and gold.
5. Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers are often found in Tet golden worship trays. They symbolize life, freshness, and signify the desire for vitality and welcoming the new year for the homeowners.
6. Betel, Candles, and Incense
Betel is one of the essentials in Tet golden worship trays. Vietnamese people, especially the elderly, often have a habit of chewing betel. Lanterns, candles, and incense are indispensable items in the offering ritual.
7. Paper Money, Gold
Paper money and gold are indispensable in the gold worship ceremony. Descendants burn paper money and gold to show filial piety and remembrance for ancestors. Spiritually, the deceased also need money, gold, etc., for use.
However, you only need to burn a moderate amount, not excessively, as burning more doesn't mean better. Excessive burning of gold can harm the surrounding environment.
You should pay attention to the order of gilding according to the relationship. If someone has recently passed away in that year, they will be gilded last.
Above are 7 essentials in Tet gold worship trays to help you prepare the ceremony most comprehensively. Don't forget to follow Media Mart for quick updates on useful information.
