The full moon of January, also known by other names such as Tet Nguyen Tieu or Tet Thuong Nguyen, is one of the most important holidays and carries a deep cultural and traditional meaning for the Vietnamese people as well as many other East Asian countries. Held on the 15th day of the first lunar month every year, this is the first full moon day of the new year, marking a new beginning and bringing with it hopes and wishes for a peaceful and happy year.
Tet Nguyen Tieu is not only a holiday but also an occasion for people to express their gratitude to the gods and ancestors who have blessed them throughout the past year. According to folk beliefs, the 15th day of the first lunar month is the day when the gods descend from heaven to bestow blessings on everyone. Therefore, on this day, people often go to temples to worship and pray for a new year of peace and prosperity.
The full moon festival of January or Tet Nguyen Tieu takes place from midnight of the 14th to the end of the 15th (full moon night) of the first lunar month.
Because Tet Nguyen Tieu takes place about half a month after Tet Nguyen Dan, many people also call it "late Tet". However, this does not reduce the important meaning of this holiday in Vietnamese culture.
In addition, Tet Nguyen Tieu is also an occasion for family members to reunite, gather together, enjoy traditional dishes and share happy and sad stories in life. This is an important occasion in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, clearly shown through the folk saying: "Worshiping all year round is not as good as the full moon of January" or "Worshiping Buddha all year round is not as good as the full moon of January". The offerings for the full moon of January are not much different from those for Tet. However, it is not necessary to prepare too elaborately, the most important thing is sincerity.
Common offerings often displayed in worship ceremonies
The offering tray for the full moon of January is extremely important because this day is believed to be the time when Buddha descended to earth, different from other full moon days. Therefore, the family should prepare a thoughtful and complete offering tray, including a Buddha offering tray and an offering tray for the family's ancestors.
This is considered one of the important holidays in Vietnamese customs.
The ancestral worshiping tray on important occasions of Vietnamese people, such as Tet Nguyen Tieu, is not only a symbol of respect for ancestors but also an occasion for families to reunite, gather together, and enjoy traditional dishes with the rich flavor of the homeland. This tray is often prepared elaborately and meticulously, showing the thoughtfulness and gratitude of descendants to the deceased.
According to folk beliefs, the ancestral worshiping tray usually has 4 bowls and 6 plates, symbolizing harmony and completeness. Each dish on the tray has its own meaning, expressing the good wishes of the homeowner for a peaceful, happy and prosperous new year. Specifically, 4 bowls include: bamboo shoot soup, ball soup, vermicelli and meatballs; 6 plates include: boiled chicken or pork, ham/pork, spring rolls, stir-fried dishes, pickled onions/pickled vegetables, sticky rice or banh chung.
Folklore believes that the first full moon night of the New Year will gather the strongest spiritual energy, is a sacred time to get wishes fulfilled, bring luck, fortune and peace to the family throughout the year.
In addition to food, offerings to ancestors also include incense, flowers, candles, votive paper, betel and areca nuts, and alcohol. It should be noted that offerings to ancestors and offerings to Buddha are different and should not be placed together. Offerings to Buddha are usually vegetarian and pure, while offerings to ancestors can be meat.
Especially in the offering tray must be banh troi (sweet rice dumplings). The meaning of eating banh troi on Tet Nguyen Tieu is to wish for everything throughout the year to be smooth and prosperous.
Sweet rice balls with many spiritual meanings are displayed on the offering tray on the full moon day.
The vegetarian offering tray for Buddha is not only a simple meal but also a symbol of respect, gratitude and the wish for peace and serenity of the soul. The vegetarian offering tray is prepared meticulously and elaborately, showing the thoughtfulness and sincerity of the person making the offering. The vegetarian offering tray for Buddha is very diverse and rich, including many dishes made from vegetables, beans and other vegetarian ingredients. Some common dishes in the vegetarian offering tray include fruits, sticky rice desserts, bean dishes, stir-fried soup, floating cakes, depending on the type of vegetarian offering, there are from 10, 12 to 25 dishes.
The Full Moon Festival in January is solemnly celebrated in most regions across the country.
The special thing about the vegetarian tray is the presence of colors symbolizing the five elements: red (fire), green (wood), black (earth), white (water) and yellow (metal). According to Eastern beliefs, the five elements are the basic elements that make up the universe and all things. The balance of the five elements will bring harmony, peace and luck to people. In addition, families can release animals, go to the temple to worship Buddha, do good deeds...
Taboos when worshiping on the 15th day of the first lunar month
You should avoid vegetarian dishes that pretend to be meat when making offerings on the Full Moon of January. According to folk beliefs, using meat dishes in vegetarian offerings to Buddha is considered a sign of a mind that still has lust and anger. Because "faking" a meat dish to be vegetarian shows that the heart is not truly pure, and that one has not yet given up desires and habits from daily life.
In the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, the Full Moon Festival in January is considered a sacred ritual with special meaning, marking the first Full Moon day of the new year.
A proper vegetarian meal should represent purity, simplicity and sincerity. Dishes should be prepared from fresh, plant-based ingredients, without the use of additives or chemical dyes. The taste of the dish should be light, gentle, not too fussy or complicated. In addition, the choice of vegetarian dishes should also be appropriate to the season. The full moon of January often falls in early spring, when the weather is still chilly. Therefore, dishes that are warm and hot such as vegetable soups, stir-fried mushrooms... will be suitable choices.
Besides, vegetarianism is considered a good form of spiritual and physical nourishment, simple but highly effective. Preparing vegetarian dishes is quite complicated, more difficult than meat dishes. Therefore, you should consider carefully before making offerings on the 15th of January 2025 with vegan dishes.
Preparing the offering tray is always done thoughtfully and meticulously by families, showing respect and sincerity.
In particular, you should not offer pig's head on the 15th day of the first lunar month. According to folk beliefs, pig's head is a dish with negative energy, not suitable for the solemn and peaceful atmosphere of the 15th day of the first lunar month. Moreover, offering pig's head at the beginning of the new year is also considered bad, it can bring bad luck to the family throughout the year. Instead of offering pig's head, people often offer other traditional dishes such as boiled chicken, sticky rice with gac fruit, bamboo shoot soup or vermicelli, dishes that symbolize abundance, prosperity and luck.
These taboos not only originate from folk beliefs but also contain profound cultural values and life philosophies.
In addition to the savory offerings and the sweet offerings, families often offer both earthly and spiritual money on the Full Moon offering tray. However, the homeowner should be careful not to put fake money or money of illicit origin, earned from illegal or unethical activities on the Full Moon offering tray. When placing money on the altar, it is not important whether it is a lot or a little, what is important is the homeowner's sincerity towards the gods and Buddhas.
