Buzz
The significance of offering on the first day of Lunar New Year
Vietnamese folklore has a saying: 'Father on the first day, Mother on the second, Teacher on the third'. From this, the importance of the first day of Lunar New Year is emphasized. According to Vietnamese tradition, the first day of Lunar New Year is dedicated to the father. Because the father holds the most important position, being the backbone of the family.
Offerings on the first day of Lunar New Year are extremely importantThe proverb 'A house without a father is like a house without a roof' has demonstrated the importance of the father in the family. The father is seen as the 'roof of the house' and the pillar of the family. Protecting and sheltering the members within. The father devotes his entire life to protecting his loved ones, being the sturdy pillar of the family.Therefore, the first day of Lunar New Year is specifically dedicated to the father. It is an opportunity for children to express gratitude and respect to their father. Who has devoted their entire lives to preserving and building the family.So, you've grasped a bit of the significance of offering on the first day of Lunar New Year. Next, Mytour will explain what the offering meal on the first day of Lunar New Year consists of.What is typically included in the New Year's Day 1 altar?
Altars for New Year's Day 1 vary from region to region, each carrying its own customs. Nevertheless, each altar holds significance, symbolizing the hopes of the household for the new year. Here are the preparations for the New Year's Day 1 altar in the North, South, and Central regions.New Year's Day 1 altar in the North
Altars for New Year's Day 1 in the North typically consist of four bowls and four plates. Each dish carries symbols representing the four pillars, four seasons, and four directions. More elaborate families may prepare up to six bowls, six plates, or even eight bowls and eight plates.
Among the four plates of the altar in the North, there is usually a plate of chicken, a plate of pork, a plate of Vietnamese sausage, and a plate of square glutinous rice with the wish for luck and vibrant red like the gac fruit in the new year.The four bowls typically include a bowl of stewed pork leg with bamboo shoots, a bowl of floating cake, a bowl of dong noodles, and a bowl of straw mushroom soup. The pork leg must be cooked with both meat and fat, with square pieces of pork belly neatly carved to open evenly at the four corners.In the North, during the New Year, it's common to avoid new births, so most dishes need to be prepared in advance.>>>> Quick View
Also on the 3rd day of Tetlet's see what's on the altar.
Altar offerings on the 1st day of Tet in Central Vietnam
Altars in Central Vietnam typically feature a wider variety of dishes compared to the South. From dry to wet dishes, most are savory, rich in flavors such as grilled pork skewers, grilled beef with lemongrass and chili, roasted pork, roasted chicken, beef stew, braised pork with cassava leaves, braised pork belly, and many more.
Altar offerings in Central VietnamMany households also prepare beef and pork marinated in fish sauce. A specialty of Central Vietnam is the indispensable rolled dish of rice paper with accompanying raw vegetables. Additionally, mixed dishes like chicken with Vietnamese coriander, mixed snails, mixed clams, and mixed jackfruit are often chosen as appetizers.Lastly, desserts on the altar typically include colorful cakes, sweet potato cakes, lotus seed cakes, and sticky rice cakes. And various green bean cakes shaped like fruits, creating an artistic atmosphere for the feast.Altar offerings on the 1st day of Tet in Southern Vietnam
Altars in Southern Vietnam are usually simpler, depending on the family's economic situation. They may reflect the richness and characteristic colors of the region but are not as elaborate as those in the North.
The dishes on the Southern banquet table are diverse and not bound by any standard. Typically, there are fried spring rolls, fresh sausage, crispy fried chicken salad, and jellyfish salad. Particularly, Tet cakes are indispensable, a type of cake essential for Tet. Tet cakes can be presented in various forms such as square Tet cakes, sweet Tet cakes, or coconut Tet cakes, filled with meat or duck eggs.Two popular dishes on the altar in Southern Vietnam are braised pork and bitter melon soup. With wishes for a prosperous and beautiful new year, these are indispensable in the altar offerings in the South.Vegetarian altar offerings on the 1st day of Tet
According to Buddhist beliefs, some families believe that in the first days of the year, one should avoid harming living beings. Therefore, instead of preparing savory altar offerings, many families often prepare a vegetarian altar with dishes such as:
Vegetarian altar offerings on the 1st day of Tet- Stir-fried vegetables: Like carrots, cabbage, spinach, mushrooms, kale,...
- Tofu: A common dish in vegetarian cuisine, prepared in various ways such as deep-frying, stir-frying with mushrooms, in a four-treasure sauce,...
- Vegetarian soup: Whether it's an altar or a meal, vegetarian or savory, every meal must have a bowl of soup. You can simply prepare a bowl of simple vegetarian soup with your favorite mushrooms and vegetables.
- Sticky rice dish: Appearing in both savory and vegetarian feasts, sticky rice is always an essential part of the Tet meal, it can be green bean sticky rice, red sticky rice, pandan leaf sticky rice,.
Ritual prayers on the 1st day of Tet
According to Vietnamese customs on the 1st day of Tet, families must prepare an altar to pay respects to ancestors and deities, wishing for a peaceful new year. After preparing the altar, the head of the household or the elders will light incense and recite ritual prayers inviting ancestors and grandparents to join the Tet feast. Below is a sample ritual prayer for the 1st day of Tet you can refer to:Namo Amitabha Buddha!Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva!Respectfully:Heaven and earth, divine beings,Land god, Kitchen god,Ancestors both near and far...Today is the 1st day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Metal Monkey, we, as: ..., currently residing at: ..., our entire family sincerely offer offerings, flowers, fruits, light incense, and respectfully present them before the ancestral altar and divine beings.
We sincerely invite:Our ancestors both near and far...Divine beings, local spiritsWe humbly ask for your presence, witness our sincere hearts, accept our offerings, and bless us and our family with all things peaceful, abundant health in the new year, prosperous business, and all wishes fulfilled.We seek the blessings of divine beings:Safety and prosperity,Family happiness,Peace for everyone,Academic excellence,Smooth career paths,Fortune and success,Everything goes smoothly.We sincerely pay homage, humbly seeking your blessings.Namo Amitabha Buddha!Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva!Tips for arranging the altar on the 1st day of Tet
Here are some things to keep in mind when arranging the altar on the 1st day of Tet:- The altar is usually set up early in the morning on the 1st day, before the family enters the new year. It is placed in the most solemn place in the house, usually on the ancestral altar.
- The five-fruit tray is usually placed in the middle of the altar, facing forward. Incense, fresh flowers are placed on both sides of the five-fruit tray. Gold paper money is placed behind the five-fruit tray. Betel leaves, alcohol, and tea are placed in front of the five-fruit tray. Chung cake (or Tet cake) is placed in the middle of the altar, below the five-fruit tray.
Some things to note when preparing the altar on the 1st day of Tet- In addition to preparing a complete altar, the homeowner should arrange the altar with reverence. The altar should be neat and clean, showing the homeowner's sincerity towards ancestors and deities.
- An important thing for homeowners to pay attention to. If they want to offer chicken in the morning of the 1st day, they should start preparing the chicken from the evening of the 30th. The reason for this attention is because offering chicken at the beginning of the year is considered unfavorable, not bringing luck to the family.
- See more articles in the category: Tet
