According to the book Vietnamese Traditional Worship - Rituals and Ritual Practices (The Gioi Publishing House), the day of burning votive paper is performed differently in each place, it can be on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 7th - the day of lowering the altar (lowering the altar is also called the lowering the flag ceremony). But for most families, the votive paper burning ceremony is usually held on the 3rd day of Tet.
The gold burning ceremony is a ceremony to burn incense, clothes, and votive paper to send ancestors to the underworld after 3 days of returning to their descendants to celebrate Tet. However, there is also a belief that the gold burning ceremony is also to show respect to the gods and ancestors who have blessed their descendants with good health and prosperity throughout the past year.
After the ceremony, the homeowner will burn the votive paper money. The money and gold of the household gods will be burned first, followed by the money and gold and belongings of the ancestors.
The offering tray for burning votive paper is usually prepared neatly and fully. Depending on the region and the economic conditions of the family, the offering tray for burning votive paper is also different, but basically it usually has:
A savory tray includes:
- Whole boiled chicken
- White sticky rice
- Banh chung or banh tet
- Boiled pork
- Soup
- Stir-fried vegetable plate
- Ham, sausage
- 3 glasses of wine...
Vegetarian offering tray (if vegetarian) includes:
- White sticky rice or gac sticky rice
- Vegetarian banh chung or banh tet
- Vegetarian soup
- Stir-fried vegetables with mushrooms
- Vegetarian fried spring rolls
- Vegetarian ham...
Other items on the offering tray:
- Hell money, votive paper
- Fruit tray
- Fresh flowers
- Incense, candles
- Confectionery
- Betel and areca nuts, tobacco
- 2 sugar canes.
The most accurate time to burn votive paper:
According to the 2025 Calendar, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025, there are two good days to perform the gold burning ceremony: the 3rd day of Tet (January 31, 2025) and the 5th day of Tet (February 2, 2025). These are two suitable days to perform the gold burning ceremony, to pray for wealth, children, blessings, and to make offerings...
If you choose the 3rd day of Tet to burn votive papers, the good hours include: Ngo hour (11am-1pm), Than hour (3pm-5pm).
If you choose the 5th day of Tet to burn votive papers, the good hours include: Dragon hour (7am-9am), Snake hour (9am-11am), Goat hour (1pm-3pm).
