Top 10 Tips for Decorating Ancestor Altars on Tet Day to Harmonize Feng Shui

In addition to horizontal boards, couplets, statues or ancestral tablets, pictures, incense burners, and offerings (depending on each family's circumstances), decorating the ancestor altar also requires items such as: Incense burner, pure water, candles, and ventilation, solemn space, and purity.

Those four items symbolize the four elements: Earth - Water - Fire - Wind and also symbolize the four limbs of each person's body. Besides, we cannot lack offerings such as fruits, sacred objects, money, feast, cakes, betel leaves, and areca nuts, symbolizing the filial piety and religious beliefs of descendants, offering to ancestors, progenitors, guardian spirits, and deities, but also symbolizing the Law of Cause and Effect in the universe.

Explanation of terms:

• Horizontal boards: a horizontal board originally a calligraphy painting (calligraphy)
• Ancestral tablet or altar is placed in the center and at the top of the altar, inside the tablet is usually placed the master or so-called offering symbolizing the presence of the deceased in the family.
• Sacred objects: offerings must be real and new items
• Money: real money
• Four limbs are the human body made of flesh and bone.

Especially bananas and pomelos are indispensable because they symbolize square-round, yin-yang. Although they are 5 types of fruits, they should not be arbitrary, the chosen fruits must be round, fragrant, and colorful. Avoid fruits with thorns, sharp leaves to avoid negative energy or fruits with fragrances that are not pure such as pineapple, jackfruit, durian…

According to the traditional customs of Vietnamese people, banh chung, and banh day are two things symbolizing Heaven - Earth, it is also a cake made from grains, symbolizing fullness, prosperity, it is an indispensable offering. When arranging the offerings, pay attention that banh chung must be placed in pairs (2 pieces) to fully represent the husband-wife relationship in harmony. In addition to the above offerings, there will be betel trays, water bowls, and various cakes, and other real items.

Each family must ensure that the ancestral altar is beautifully arranged and convenient to use on Tet day. Typically, the tray of five fruits is placed right in the middle of the altar, while other items are arranged on the sides and around it. In front of the incense bowl, the tray of five fruits can be placed in the center. Vases, flower pots, candles, and bronze cranes are placed on both sides for symmetry.

On the left side, betel leaves and liquor are placed, while on the right side, square glutinous rice cakes are placed. For families with small ancestral altars, the tray of five fruits is usually placed on the right side (looking from the left hand towards the right hand), and the flower vase is placed on the left side. In the middle, there are five small cups, and the remaining space is filled with betel leaves, gold coins, cakes, cigarettes, and square glutinous rice cakes.

Furthermore, many families make mistakes in decorating the ancestral altar on Tet day, such as not having lamps or candles, oil lamps for burning during ceremonies. This is something to avoid because they symbolize the balance of Yin and Yang, providing warmth, intelligence, brightness, and dispelling negative energy.

Explanation of terms:
+ Dong bronze is also called incense burners, commonly used in pagodas, temples, ancestral altars for burning incense, creating incense for the worship space.

The ancestral altar is a place of worship for ancestors, so anything unrelated to worship should never be placed on the altar. Families should also be aware not to place items with foul odors, those that cause harm, or rotten fruits on the altar, as this would detract from its solemnity and purity.

Many families have the habit of placing artificial flowers on the altar to save costs and avoid the hassle of changing water. However, plastic flowers or blinking electric lights should not be placed on the altar. Although real flowers and fruits may be slightly more expensive, they express the sincerity and reverence of descendants. It is also inappropriate to bring any blessings received from temples or shrines and place them on the altar. If purchasing golden branches and jade leaves as offerings at historic sites, it is better to dispose of them rather than bringing them home for display.

We should only offer genuine items and wealth, avoiding old items, replicas, fake money, etc. Additionally, decorative potted plants should not be placed on the altar; fresh flowers should be primarily used for worship.

Mistake 1: Not Understanding the Meanings of Various Fruits Completely.

• Some families often wonder whether the five-fruits tray must include fruits of different colors representing the Five Elements (Metal - white, Wood - green, Water - black, Fire - red, Earth - yellow) or not. While they still want to include various other fruits to express the desires of the family head. To explain this, we need to understand that according to tradition, the Five Elements concept is not applied on the altar, so it does not have practical significance in spirituality. Therefore, choosing fruits according to the colors of the Five Elements is better if not, other fruits can be chosen based on the owner's desires.

Mistake 2: Cleaning the Fruits Excessively to Make the Five-Fruit Tray Look Beautiful.

• Many families often wash the fruits thoroughly to make them shiny and beautiful. However, washing the fruits can cause them to wither or rot if there is water retention. Therefore, we only need to use a damp cloth to clean the fruits. For fruits like pomelo with yellowing or green mold on the skin, we can use a little lime water, soak it in a cloth, and then wipe it evenly to make the pomelo skin yellow without water retention, preventing the pomelo from withering.

Mistake 3: Selecting Overripe Fruits.

• Usually, the five-fruit tray needs to be prepared before the night of the 30th of Tet and arranged by families on the morning or afternoon of the 30th Tet. However, purchasing fruits will be done much earlier. Therefore, if we don't consider that the tray will be kept from the 30th Tet to a few days later and choose to buy fruits that are already ripe and beautiful, when placed on the tray, the fruits may become too ripe, the skin may become wrinkled, and the leaves may wilt. Therefore, based on the time of purchase, we should choose fruits that are mature but not too ripe. Bananas must be green, while other fruits like mangoes, papayas, peaches, mangosteens, etc., should be bought while still firm so that they do not rot when placed on the tray.

When it comes to the five-fruit tray, it is usually arranged with five different types of fruits, each with various colors to create a beautiful and solemn appearance. The five fruits symbolize harmony between heaven and earth, as well as represent the five desires: Wealth, Status, Longevity, Health, and Peace.

Depending on the characteristics of each region in terms of climate, produce, and individual beliefs, different types of fruits are chosen to arrange the five-fruit tray. In the Northern region, commonly used fruits include green bananas, red oranges, yellow pomelos, white pears, and gray sapodillas. Additionally, some branches of peach blossom or apricot blossom and twinkling lights may be added to enhance the altar's sparkle and charm.

In the Southern region, people often arrange the five-fruit tray with the desire for 'just enough to use and enjoy,' symbolizing a wish for a full and prosperous new year. The five chosen fruits are mangosteens, custard apples, coconuts, papayas, and mangoes. Additionally, a pineapple is included to symbolize a wish for a house full of children, and a pair of watermelons are placed to pray for luck.

Meanwhile, in the Northern region, the symbolic meanings are more diverse. Buddha's hand or bananas, resembling Buddha's hand sheltering everyone; pomelos and watermelons represent abundance and completeness; the vibrant colors of oranges and apples symbolize luck and prosperity.

Today, the variety of fruits on the Tet altar in Vietnam is richer due to the presence of imported fruits. With the harmonization in culture, Vietnamese people can always find all the suitable elements that hold significant value for their spiritual life. Ultimately, the most beautiful and refined products are offered with deep respect and sincerity. The Tet altar is not only a place for expressing family affection and lineage but also where we convey wishes for a safe, prosperous new year.

When arranging the ancestral altar, the highest position, right in the center, is reserved for the ancestral tablet - a wooden plaque inscribed with the names and titles of the ancestors being worshiped. This plaque may be placed on a dedicated altar or shrine.

Since most families have only one altar, it serves as a shared space for multiple generations of ancestors and deities. Therefore, this position is commonly designated for the collective ancestral tablet. On either side of the collective ancestral tablet, individual ancestral tablets or portraits of deceased family members such as grandparents, parents, etc., are arranged according to proper etiquette.

In front of the ancestral tablets, incense burners are placed, with their size adjusted according to the dimensions of the altar. Typically, the largest incense burner is positioned in the center for aesthetic purposes. Additionally, two candles, oil lamps, or candles are essential on the altar for lighting during rituals. On the sides of the altar, incense holders, flower vases, ritual platters, and lamp bases are arranged.

The altar should not obstruct any pathways. Placing it in a thoroughfare disrupts the tranquility of the worship space, potentially bringing misfortune and hindering prosperity. The ancestral incense burner should have handles, while the deity incense burner should not. Ideally, incense burners are made of porcelain, followed by bronze, and should not be made of granite.

The front lights should not directly face the altar, and spotlights should not be used. Additionally, the altar should not be placed below a beam or rafter. If there is no better location, it should be installed with a ceiling. Furthermore, no mechanical devices such as air conditioners, exhaust fans, or speakers should be above the altar. The altar should not face the Five Ghosts directions: Northeast or Southwest. (Avoid placing the altar facing Northeast looking to Southwest or vice versa). Avoid positioning the altar in the East or Southeast looking to the West. Do not place the altar on top of a cabinet. Used wood should not be recycled to make the altar. The altars for deities and Buddhas can be shared, but the incense burners should not be placed close together. Ancestral altars should not be placed in the center of the house, as it may invite negative energy. Instead, Buddha altars can be positioned at the center. Ancestral altars and Buddha altars should not face each other in the same room. Avoid hanging portraits of deceased individuals higher than the altar.

The ancestral altar is the sacred abode of ancestors in the family, hence it is often placed in the central and highest position within the house. This placement not only avoids collisions but also shields it from wind, dust, and insects. Cleaning the ancestral altar is the foremost task, meticulously performed to express filial piety and remembrance towards ancestors.

Brooms or altar-cleaning cloths are typically used separately and are highly restricted from mingling. The water used to clean the altar is sourced from clean water, and some even use rainwater or water boiled with betel leaves and lotus leaves. In the Vietnamese psyche, there exists a profound bond between the deceased and the living.

The ancestral altar space is a sacred area in the family, preserving many emotional memories between generations. Therefore, maintaining the cleanliness and freshness of the altar not only demonstrates care and respect from descendants towards their ancestors but also nurtures the spiritual self of individuals. It is not necessary to wait until the end of the year, death anniversaries, or the days before Lunar New Year to clean and tend to the altar. However, it is during the days leading up to Tet that the bustling atmosphere of cleaning and altar preparations is fully felt.

From polishing the bronze incense burners, wiping the photo frames, to replacing the incense sand… all signify the need for harmony and profound connection between the material and the spiritual worlds. Sweeping and tidying the house is often the task of women in the household due to its meticulous nature. However, altar arrangement during Tet is a duty often bestowed upon men, simply because it is more laborious. Moreover, men, as the heads of the family, are responsible for representing the care of the ancestral abode to express reverence. Women in the household are engaged in kitchen chores, cooking, and cleaning the kitchen. This perspective stems from traditional cultural beliefs. In urban areas today, such distinctions are less pronounced.

Arranging offerings or lighting incense on the ancestral altar does not discriminate by gender or age as in rural areas. However, to maintain tradition, families still invite the oldest or most respected member to perform rituals and light incense for ancestors on important occasions such as New Year's Eve, Lunar New Year's Eve, New Year's celebrations, and farewell ceremonies…

At the end of the year, families clean the ancestral altar to prepare for the Tet decoration. According to feng shui principles, the incense holder should not be moved arbitrarily. If the incense holder is moved to a bad direction, it can bring bad luck to the homeowner.

It's important to note that after removing the incense stick, we should not pour all the ashes outside. According to ancient beliefs, this method can easily scatter wealth and prosperity. Instead, we should use a small spoon to scoop out each spoonful of ashes outside. When cleaning, families should use a new cloth, wiping from top to bottom. The cleaning solution is alcohol with crushed ginger.

On the ancestral altar, in the center, the incense holder (symbolizing purity) must be placed, and on it is a stand for the incense coil (symbolizing the axis of the universe); two other incense holders are placed on the left and right to form a three-talent position; in the two outer corners, there are always two oil lamps (or candles) symbolizing the sun on the left and the moon on the right.

The incense holder for ancestral worship should be chosen with a handle, while the incense holder for deity worship should not have a handle. The best material for the incense holder should be porcelain, followed by brass, and should not be made of granite.

10. The top tier of the ancestral altar should not be used for savory offerings.

Some families, when worshipping ancestors, prefer to position the altar at the highest point. However, it is advised against placing salty offerings on the top tier due to its association with negative energies.