The New Year's Eve offering is called the ceremony of sending off the old and welcoming the new. The offering tray will be placed outdoors, to see off the heavenly ruler who has ruled the lower world and welcome the new one to continue this work.
What offerings are included in the outdoor New Year's Eve offering tray?
According to folklore, the homeowner needs to perform outdoor worship before performing the New Year's Eve ceremony indoors.
The outdoor New Year's Eve offering tray can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian, depending on the family's conditions. Usually, the offering tray has cakes, jams, sticky rice, fruits, incense, candles, betel and areca nuts, wine, etc. The homeowner can also display boiled chicken or banh chung or banh tet.
Outdoor offerings do not need to be as elaborate as indoor offerings, but they need to be prepared neatly, cleanly, and tidily.
At exactly the hour of Ty (11pm - 1am), families place the offering tray in front of their house and perform the worship ritual. If living in an apartment, the homeowner can place the offering tray on the balcony or in the main hall of the building they live in.
Outdoor New Year's Eve Prayer (Traditional Vietnamese Prayer - Culture and Information Publishing House):
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Dear:
The future Buddha Maitreya will be born.
The Emperor of Heaven and the Emperor of Earth, all the Gods.
His Excellency, the Former King of Zhou, Hanh Khien, the God of Military Operations, and Judge Ly Tao.
He was the current King Zhao Xingqian, the thirty-seventh military commander, and the judge of Qu Cao.
His Majesty the Local God and Great Kings.
The Local God of the Land, the Kitchen God of Fortune, the Earth God of the Dragon Vein, and all the Gods who govern this area.
Now is the New Year's Eve of the year of the Snake,
We are:... Residing at:...
The sacred moment of New Year's Eve has just arrived, the old year has passed, the new year is welcomed, Tam Duong opens Thai, all things are renewed. Now the Supreme God Thai Tue above obeys the Emperor's command to supervise all people, below protects all living beings and eliminates evil. The old official returns to the Court to leave his vacancy, leaving behind blessings and grace. The new official takes his place, showing his virtue of loving life, bestowing wealth and prosperity.
On the occasion of the New Year, we sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and rituals to present before the Altar. We offer to the Buddha, the Saints, and the Gods, burn incense and sincerely pray.
We respectfully invite: Your Excellency, the current ruler of Chu Vuong Hanh Khien, the God of Heavenly War, Judge Ly Tao, Your Excellency, the current ruler of Trieu Vuong Hanh Khien, the God of Thirty-six Merchants, Judge Khuc Tao, Your Excellency, the Great Kings of the Local City God, Your Excellency, the Local God of the Earth, Your Excellency, the God of Fortune and Virtue, Your Excellency, the Five Directions, Five Lands, the Dragon Vein Wealth God, Your Excellency, the God of the Homeland, the Earthly God of the Dragon Vein, and all the Gods who govern this area. Please come before the altar and enjoy the offerings.
Pray for us: May we be healthy and prosperous all year round. May all circumstances be favorable and our work be successful. May everyone be safe and sound, and may we enjoy benefits every day. May the Yin and Yang support us, and may our wishes come true. May no evils invade us in the four seasons, and may auspicious signs come to pass in the eight solar terms.
With all my heart, I bow and ask for your witness.
Caution.
