The year-end worship ceremony has the meaning of expressing gratitude to heaven and earth, gods and ancestors who have protected them throughout the past year. At the same time, this is also a ritual marking the moment of transition, sending the old year through and opening the new year with wishes for peace, prosperity and wealth.
According to the book "Traditional Vietnamese Worship - Rituals and Ritual Practices", the year-end offering tray can be prepared in the form of vegetarian, saline or a combination of both, depending on the conditions and beliefs of each family. Usually, the dishes are cooked thoughtfully; some places are simply arranged, but some families prepare quite elaborately, full of typical Tet dishes.
However, whether it is a vegetarian tray or a savory tray, according to traditional beliefs, it is still necessary to have a full bowl of rice covered and four bowls of rice stirred moderately, showing fullness and solemnity in the year-end ritual.
According to folk customs, the year-end worship ceremony is usually held on the 29th or 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, when the cleaning and Tet preparation in the house is basically completed. This is the time when family members can reunite fully and together perform the ritual to close an old year.
This year, because there is no 30th day of Tet, families can perform year-end worship on the 28th or 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Below are suggestions for worshiping days and worshiping hours for the 2026 year-end ceremony according to the book "Lịch âm dương cát tường năm Bính Ngọ 2026" (Hong Duc Publishing House):
The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month (February 16, 2026 Gregorian calendar) has appropriate hours including: Dragon hour (7am - 9am), Snake hour (9am - 11am), Monkey hour (3pm - 5pm) and Rooster hour (5pm - 7pm).
December 28th (February 15, 2026 Gregorian calendar): Dragon hour (7am - 9am) and Snake hour (9am - 11am).
December 27th (February 14, 2026 Gregorian calendar): Ty hour (9am - 11am) and Than hour (3pm - 5pm).
December 26th (February 13, 2026 Gregorian calendar): Dragon hour (7am - 9am), Horse hour (11am - 1pm) or Goat hour (1pm - 3pm).
Among them, the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month (February 16, 2026 Gregorian calendar) is considered the most favorable time to perform the year-end worship ceremony of the Binh Ngo year. This day falls on Tan Dau day, in which the Snake hour (9am - 11am) is considered beautiful for offering incense, because this is the auspicious hour, meaning good luck and good fortune.
However, in modern life, the choice of date and time is mainly for reference in terms of spirituality and culture. The core of the year-end ceremony is still careful preparation, atmosphere of reunion and preservation of family traditional values.
