On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month every year, many Vietnamese families are busy preparing to worship the Kitchen Gods to express their respect and pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Accordingly, housewives should prepare the offering to Ong Cong Ong Tao early to ensure neatness and completeness. The savory offering will include traditional dishes such as boiled chicken, sticky rice, soup, fruit, betel and areca, incense and lamps. Depending on the region, the dishes can be changed accordingly.
The ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods must be completed before noon (11am to 1pm) on the 23rd of December to be able to send them off to heaven. Don't worship late as it will lose the sacred meaning of the ceremony.
The offering tray should be placed in a high and solemn position in the kitchen area, avoid placing it on the ground to ensure solemnity and show the family's respect.
Housewives or family members assigned to perform the ritual should wear formal, polite clothing and during the ceremony should avoid laughing loudly, but should be quiet, pray gently, and be solemn.
After the ceremony, carp are often released into ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Therefore, choose a suitable place that is convenient for your family.
In particular, housewives should note that when releasing fish, they should avoid throwing fish from above or releasing them in plastic bags to show respect as well as protect the environment.
The preparation for the ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods does not need to be too elaborate but must be complete and accurate according to traditional rituals.
