On the morning of December 23rd of the lunar calendar, the small kitchen in the small house of Mr. Nguyen Duc Manh's family (33 years old, Quoc Oai commune, Hanoi City) was on fire from early morning.
On the wooden table close to the window, the golden-golden boiled chicken had just been skillfully shaped by Mr. Manh, the plate of spring rolls was neatly arranged, and the bowl of bamboo shoot soup was still steaming.
This year's Ong Cong and Ong Tao offering trays, like many years ago, are prepared by his own hands.
The kitchen space is warm with the smell of lemon leaves, chicken fat, and faint incense smoke. Mr. Manh quickly seasons, wipes the bowl, and adjusts each dish before bringing it to the altar.
I work in an office, busy all year round. This time, I take advantage of taking an early break, personally cooking a complete offering tray," he said, his hand still not leaving the plate of sticky rice that had just been cooked.
The offering tray is not elaborate but full, including boiled chicken, bamboo shoot soup, spring rolls, spring rolls, tofu, stir-fried vegetables, a plate of fruits and a vase of yellow chrysanthemums with a few red roses.
Born and raised in Quoc Oai, Mr. Manh still remembers vividly the image of his mother in the past being busy from the early morning of December 23rd of the lunar calendar.
When I was a child, I was only used to seeing women preparing offerings. Now that I have my own family, I think differently. Housework is not anyone's business, especially things that mean reunion like this," he said.
While waiting for the soup to boil, he took the opportunity to tell the children in the family the story of Tao Quan going to heaven, why the family prepares the offering tray, why it is necessary to keep the kitchen always warm.
The child listened while curiously looking at the fermented pork roll island, occasionally running over to ask more.
According to Mr. Manh, going to the kitchen to cook offerings is not "helping his wife", but a natural responsibility of a man in the family.
When the offering tray was placed neatly in front of the altar, Mr. Manh lit incense, stood silently, clasped his hands and prayed. The space was quiet, only the gentle sound of wind outside the porch remained.
For him, it is not only a ritual to see off the Kitchen Gods, but also a way to close a busy year, opening up a wish for peace and prosperity for his small family...
