According to folk beliefs, the year-end ceremony is to thank heaven and earth, gods, and ancestors for blessing and protecting descendants with good health, prosperity, and all-round success over the past year. The year-end ceremony is also an occasion for the whole family to gather, say goodbye to the old year, and prepare to welcome the new year.
On New Year’s Eve, most families pay attention to cleaning and renovating their houses to make them neat and tidy. This also has a deeper meaning, which is “sending out the old and welcoming the new”, chasing away bad luck and welcoming good fortune in the new year. Therefore, the homeowner and his descendants need to pay attention to purifying the house, especially the place of worship to keep it clean and free from evil spirits and pollution.
After completing all the steps, people clean the house again and choose to use cleansing powder, burn agarwood to create a scent and sprinkle aromatic water (cooked from traditional Chinese medicine) to help dispel evil spirits, bring wealth and fortune to the homeowner in the new year.
After everything is ready, the homeowner offers incense and lights, sits cross-legged or kneels before the family altar, recites the Buddha's name: "Nam Mo A Di Da Phat" (3 times), and after reciting, bows 3 times.
Below is the year-end prayer according to the book Traditional Vietnamese Worship - Rituals and Ritual Practices (The Gioi Publishing House):
“I bow to the nine directions of the sky, the ten directions of Buddhas, the ten directions of Buddhas;
I bow to my parents Truth;
I bow to the fairies, gods, saints, and holy mothers;
I bow to the gods who govern this place, my paternal and maternal ancestors, the previous and current owners of the land, and all the deceased here.
My name is:..., residing at:...
Today is the 30th of Tet, I have prepared the offerings for the New Year's Eve ceremony, and would like to hold an incense offering ceremony to express my sincere gratitude to the above. I respectfully ask that you, the ancestors, and the council of ancestors attend the ceremony, enjoy the offerings, and witness and bless our family with good health, peace, prosperity, and prosperity.
After praying, the homeowner reads the ritual:
"Sincerely celebrate the end of the year
My heart is happy to offer incense to the ancestors
The grace of birth and upbringing
How dare I betray your deep gratitude?
A reverence for herbs
I bow to the ancestors and witness my wish.
Witness the bright mind, sincere heart
Proof that filial piety is always complete
Grandparents together
Good children and grandchildren welcome spring radiantly.
Please Buddha have mercy
Granted to both sides of the family and relatives
Know cause, know effect, correct mind
Do many good deeds, accumulate great blessings
Spring comes with warm family love
Spring comes, fortune also comes with spring.
After reading, bow 3 times.
After the ceremony, wait for the first week of incense to burn out. You can light a second week of incense when the homeowner or descendants start burning votive paper and prayers (remember to pour ginger wine on the ashes of the votive paper). Sprinkle rice and salt in front of the gate. When the incense has burned out, please stop the ceremony.
Prayer for the New Year's Eve ceremony on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet according to the book "Traditional Vietnamese Prayers" (Culture - Information Publishing House):
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
- I bow to the nine directions, the ten directions of Buddhas, the ten directions of Buddhas.
- I respectfully bow to the Emperor of Heaven, the Mother of Earth, and all the deities.
- I respectfully bow to you, the current year's ruler, the most virtuous and venerable god of the year.
- I respectfully bow to you, the local tutelary gods and great kings.
- I respectfully bow to you, the local spirit and local deity.
- I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, Five Lands, Dragon Veins, God of Wealth, Kitchen God, and all the deities who govern this land.
- I respectfully bow to my ancestors, paternal and maternal ancestors...
Today is December 30th, year:..
We are the believers:.. Residing at:..
Before the altar, I respectfully present: Winter is almost over, the year is exhausted and the month is over, spring is near, and the new year is approaching.
We and our entire family prepare offerings of incense, flowers, and sumptuous meals to prepare a New Year's Eve ceremony, to offer to the Heaven and Earth Gods, to honor our ancestors, and to commemorate the spirits.
As usual, I respectfully ask all the deities, ancestors, and local spirits to come down to their seats, witness, enjoy the offerings, and bless the whole family, young and old, with peace and prosperity, all wishes come true, all good things, always good health, and family harmony.
Sincerely bow and ask the gods and ancestors to witness and bless.
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times, 3 bows).
