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In the Vietnamese psyche, the ceremony of bidding farewell to the Kitchen God is a beautiful cultural tradition, marking the sacred transition from the old year to the new. Amidst the swirling incense smoke and elaborate offerings, the image of carp wagging their tails in a basin of water, awaiting release, has become an enduring symbol. But why is it only carp that escort the Kitchen God to heaven?
The most common explanation for the carp's role as a "magical vehicle" is the legend of the carp transforming into a dragon. The story goes that in the primordial era, when heaven and earth were still in their infancy, the Celestial Court held a competition to select creatures with the strength to transform into dragons, shouldering the responsibility of bringing rain to help people with agriculture. Overcoming countless raging waves that forced shrimp and perch to give up, only the carp, with its unwavering will and holding a precious pearl in its mouth, spectacularly overcame three high waves, passed through the Dragon Gate, and transformed into a majestic dragon.
This image is not just a fairy tale, but has become a symbol of the Vietnamese people's spirit of overcoming difficulties, perseverance, and aspiration for success. In the ritual on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, choosing carp as the mascot to bid farewell to the Kitchen God is the way the homeowner expresses their wish for "transformation" in work and life. The carp transforming into a dragon carries the Kitchen God to heaven, just as people bring their efforts from the past year to the supreme being, hoping for a new year of "smooth sailing" and abundant progress.
According to folk beliefs, Ông Công and Ông Táo are deities who stand by the household, recording all good and evil deeds to report to the Jade Emperor. To ensure the ritual of worshipping Ông Công and Ông Táo is performed correctly, with solemnity and preserving cultural values, understanding the taboos associated with this ceremony is extremely important for every family.
Timing of the ceremony: Avoid any time discrepancies.
One of the key elements in this spiritual ritual is "timing." The official day to bid farewell to the Kitchen God is the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. However, in today's busy modern life, many families tend to perform the ceremony earlier for convenience. Even so, cultural experts advise against performing the ritual too early, especially before the 20th day of the 12th lunar month. According to ancient beliefs, if the gods are sent off too early, their care for the kitchen and protection of the household on earth will be interrupted, creating an unnecessary spiritual void.
The offerings for the Kitchen God and the Stove God should be arranged solemnly on the main altar or a separate altar dedicated to the Kitchen God, showing the homeowner's reverence before bidding farewell to the deities as they return to heaven.
Conversely, offering sacrifices too late is also a taboo to avoid. The most important milestone is noon (from 11 am to 1 pm) on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. This is considered the last time for the Kitchen Gods to begin their journey to heaven. After this time, the gates of heaven are believed to close, causing delays in the gods' reports. Therefore, the family needs to carefully plan the time so that the ceremony is conducted solemnly before noon on the main day of the ceremony.
The offering tray and the offerings to be noted
Preparing the offering tray for the Kitchen God and Goddess always requires sincerity and meticulousness. In spiritual culinary culture, not all dishes can be placed on the altar. According to local customs, some dishes such as duck, goose, goat, buffalo, dog, or squid are often considered inappropriate because they are considered "killer" or unlucky. In particular, fried carp – which is the vehicle of the Kitchen God – should absolutely not appear on the savory offering tray, as it is considered an insult to the deity being bid farewell.
Instead, the homeowner should focus on purity and auspicious colors. Traditional offerings such as glutinous rice with gac fruit (symbolizing good fortune), boiled chicken with a rose in its beak, pork sausage, and stir-fried dishes should be beautifully presented. The most important thing is not the lavishness of the offerings, but cleanliness. The utensils used for the offerings must be separate bowls and plates or thoroughly cleaned; chipped items should absolutely not be used as this would diminish the solemnity of the ritual.
Placement of the offering tray
The placement of the offering tray is a frequently debated topic in many families. Some believe that offerings to the Kitchen God must be made in the kitchen. However, from a feng shui and religious perspective, the offering tray should be placed in the most dignified location. If the family has a separate Kitchen God altar in the kitchen area, making the offering there is perfectly appropriate. If there is no separate altar, the homeowner should place the offering tray at the main family altar.
Arranging offerings haphazardly, placing them on the floor or near unclean areas, is considered extremely taboo. The worship space needs to be clean, tidy, and airy to create a solemn atmosphere. The meticulous arrangement reflects the homeowner's reverence for the deities who govern their home.
The harmful misconception about fake money and the mindset of begging.
A common mistake nowadays is burning paper money (ghost money) when worshipping the Kitchen God. It's important to understand that the Kitchen God and Goddess are deities, not the spirits of the deceased. Burning excessive amounts of paper offerings, especially ghost money, not only deviates from the spiritual meaning but also causes waste and environmental pollution. Proper offerings should only include the hats, robes, and shoes of the deities.
When praying, families should only express their wish for the deities to report the good and positive things that happened in the past year, instead of asking for wealth or prosperity.
Furthermore, the mindset when praying also needs adjustment. Many people often take advantage of this occasion to pray for wealth, promotion, or abundant money. However, the Kitchen God's responsibility is to report on the lifestyle, morality, and events that have taken place in the family throughout the past year. Therefore, instead of praying for fame and fortune, the homeowner should sincerely hope that the gods will report on good and positive things and ask for peace for the family in the new year. This is the original meaning of this custom.
Civilized attire and rituals for releasing animals
Sincerity is not only expressed through offerings but also through the image of the person performing the ceremony. The homeowner should dress respectfully and modestly when standing before the altar, avoiding inappropriate attire such as pajamas or overly short clothing. A clean body and a joyful state of mind will help create a more serene and positive atmosphere for the ceremony.
Finally, the ritual of releasing carp, a final humane tradition on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, needs to be performed in a civilized manner. Currently, there is still a situation where people throw fish from high bridges into the river or release them along with plastic bags. This action not only injures the fish, making it difficult for them to survive, but also destroys the ecological environment. For the release to truly bring merit, carp should be taken to clean water sources and gently released near the surface. Performing it correctly not only protects life but also preserves the meaning of the symbol "carp transforming into a dragon," demonstrating the awareness of a modern citizen in preserving Vietnamese tradition.
