Kitchen Gods Ceremony - the Vietnamese essential festival If you travel to Vietnam during this time, you will have a chance to experience some of long-lasting customs, Kitchen Gods Ceremony. Vietnamese people believe the New Year begins once the Kitchen Gods travel up to the Heaven on 23rd of December (based on Lunar Calendar) and come back on new Year's Eve.
Hanoi has been cold, cloudy and rainy recently. Walking around Old Quarter, especially Hang Ma street and Dong Xuan Market, you will see many people in a rush to prepare for this important day. Some one are talking with street vendors and choosing paper clothing and hats for Kitchen Gods. Some one are looking for some decorations to make their houses more beautiful during Tet. Children are interested in following their parents to go shopping for Tet. Young men and women spend their time taking some nice photographs with friends.
There are three different Kitchen Gods: the Deity of Land, the Deity of House and he Deity of Market who are responsible for the well-being of people's houses and prosperity. Vietnamese people call all of them as "Tao Quan" or "Ong Tao". On the 23rd December every year, Kitchen Gods travel up to Heaven and report to High Gods about all the things done by people and pray for next year's luck, health and prosperity.
On that day, people clean their houses and kitchens, replace the kitchen icons, cook delicious traditional food and decorate the altar with fresh flowers and fruits. They burn paper clothing and hats for Kitchen Gods as well as prepare a live large golden carp or three small ones as Kitchen Gods' transportation.. The golden carp, the Heaven's animal and very good swimmer, will be freed into a pond, lake or river after the ceremony is finished. If you have a chance to travel to Vietnam during this time, don't miss it!
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