The forth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam
The forth day of Tet Holiday is a holiday in Vietnam.
When is The forth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam
The forth day of Tet Holiday is celebrated on 25, January, 2023 in Vietnam.
About The forth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam
The fourth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam is known as “Tet Tuong Cuop” or “Tet of Stealing the Kitchen God”. It is celebrated on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, which usually falls in late January or early February.
According to Vietnamese tradition, the Kitchen God is a deity who resides in every household’s kitchen and watches over the family’s affairs. On the fourth day of Tet, the Kitchen God is believed to ascend to heaven to report on the family’s behavior over the past year to the Jade Emperor.
To ensure a favorable report, Vietnamese families clean their homes and prepare offerings of food, fruit, and flowers to the Kitchen God. They also burn incense and paper money for him to use on his journey to heaven.
After the offerings are made, the family gathers around the kitchen altar and together, they shout out the Kitchen God’s name, urging him to leave quickly and deliver a good report. Some families also smear honey on the Kitchen God’s mouth to sweeten his words and ensure a positive report.
The fourth day of Tet is also a time for families to gather and enjoy a festive meal together. It is a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new year with hope and optimism.
History of The forth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam
The fourth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam is also known as “Tet Tuong Cuop” or “Day of Stealing”. This day has a unique history and cultural significance in Vietnam.
According to legend, on the fourth day of Tet, the Kitchen God, who is believed to watch over Vietnamese households, returns to Earth to report to the Jade Emperor about the behavior of the family members during the past year. To avoid being punished for any wrongdoings, families prepare offerings of food, flowers, and other items to welcome the Kitchen God and bribe him with gifts.
However, there is also a tradition of “stealing” the Kitchen God’s paper effigy from the family altar before he can report to the Jade Emperor. This is done to prevent the Kitchen God from reporting any negative behavior of the family members. The effigy is then burned in a ritualistic ceremony to send him back to heaven.
The tradition of stealing the Kitchen God’s effigy has evolved over time and is now more of a playful activity among children and young adults. They often dress up in disguises and sneak into their neighbors’ homes to steal their Kitchen God effigy. The stolen effigies are then exchanged for small gifts or money.
In recent years, the government has discouraged the practice of stealing and encouraged families to focus on the spiritual and cultural significance of the day. Many families now choose to make offerings to the Kitchen God and participate in traditional Tet activities such as visiting relatives and friends, playing games, and enjoying festive meals.
Overall, the fourth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam is a unique and important day that reflects the country’s rich cultural heritage and traditions.
How is The forth day of Tet Holiday celebrated in Vietnam
The fourth day of Tet Holiday in Vietnam is traditionally known as “Tet Ong Cong, Tet Ba Cong” which means “the festival of the Land Genie and the Kitchen God”. On this day, Vietnamese people often visit their relatives, friends, and neighbors to wish them good luck and prosperity for the new year.
In the morning, families prepare offerings of fruits, flowers, and traditional Vietnamese dishes to worship the Land Genie and the Kitchen God. They also burn incense and offer prayers to thank them for their protection and blessings throughout the year.
In the afternoon, people often participate in various cultural activities such as dragon dancing, lion dancing, and folk games. They also enjoy traditional Tet foods such as banh chung (sticky rice cake), banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cake), and xoi (sticky rice).
In some regions of Vietnam, people also release fish and birds into the wild as a symbol of good luck and prosperity for the new year. The fourth day of Tet Holiday is a time for families to come together, enjoy each other’s company, and celebrate the beginning of a new year.
Dates
The forth day of Tet Holiday will be celebrated in Vietnam on 2023-01-25 2024-02-13 2025-02-01 2026-02-20 2027-02-09 in the comming years.
