According to the concept of ancient Vietnamese people, the New Year's Eve ceremony is to thank heaven and earth, gods, and ancestors for blessing and protecting descendants with good health, prosperous business, and good in all aspects.
The New Year's Eve offering usually takes place on the afternoon of December 30 to complete a year.
New Year's Eve prayers according to the book "Traditional Vietnamese prayers" - Culture and Information Publishing House:
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
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 30, year of the Dragon
We, the believers, are:…
Located 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 gods, ancestors, and local spirits to come down to their seats, witness, and enjoy the offerings to bless the whole family, young and old, with peace, prosperity, good health, peace in all things, and family harmony.
Sincerely bow and ask the gods and ancestors to witness and bless.
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
New Year's Eve prayer according to the book "Traditional Vietnamese worship - rituals and ritual practices" - The Gioi Publishing House:
I bow to the nine directions of heaven, 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)
New Year's Eve offering tray
A New Year's Eve offering tray will include basic dishes such as: Boiled chicken, Chung cake (or Tet cake), sticky rice with beans (or sticky rice with gac fruit), braised pork (or jellied pork).
For Northerners, the homeowner often has additional traditional dishes such as bamboo shoot soup, pork roll, pickled vegetables, and fish ball soup...
Meanwhile, people in the Central region often prepare boiled pork, tuna...
Southerners are more diverse with bitter melon soup stuffed with meat, shrimp and meat salad, braised pork and eggs, banh tet with pickled onions...
