Depending on specific conditions, each family will prepare different offerings to the Kitchen Gods. These offerings do not necessarily have to be too luxurious or elaborate, but the most important thing is the sincerity and respect when performing the ceremony.
Depending on the family's circumstances and local culture, each family can prepare a savory or vegetarian offering (with betel and areca nuts, flowers, fruits, gold and silver paper...) to send off the Kitchen Gods.
In the North, people usually worship Ong Cong Ong Tao from around December 20th and at the latest before 12 noon on December 23rd. Northerners believe that after 12 noon on December 23rd, Ong Tao has gone to heaven.
The traditional Northern offering tray for the Kitchen Gods will have the following basic dishes:
1 plate of rice, 1 plate of salt
1 boiled rooster carved with chili or rose (can be replaced with boiled pork or roast duck)
1 bowl of mushroom soup or bamboo shoot soup
1 mixed stir-fry plate
1 plate of fried ham, sausage or meat jelly
1 plate of sticky rice with gac fruit
1 plate of sweet soup
Carp (live or fried), because according to belief, carp is the vehicle for the Kitchen Gods to go to heaven.
If it is a live carp, after the offering, people will take it to the river or stream to release it.
Southerners usually worship the Kitchen Gods at night, between 8pm and 11pm on the 23rd of December. This is the time when cooking is stopped to avoid disturbing the Kitchen Gods.
The Southern offering tray for the Kitchen God includes main dishes such as spring rolls, pork rolls, banh chung, pickled onions, boiled chicken... with a plate of peanuts and black sesame candy. In the South, people do not offer carp, nor do they offer hats or worship clothes.
People in the Central region worship the Kitchen God on the 23rd of December and take this holiday very seriously.
The offering tray of the Central region does not have clothes, hats, or votive paper for the Kitchen Gods like the Northern region, but the Central region people often offer a paper horse with a full saddle, burn votive paper, and offer many other offerings. In addition to the basic dishes, the tray must also have tuna or mackerel.
What date is the Kitchen Gods Festival 2024?
Ong Cong Ong Tao Festival falls on the 23rd of December every year. On this occasion, families often prepare a feast to send Ong Cong Ong Tao off to heaven.
Experts suggest good dates and times to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao in 2024
Many people wonder what day and time to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao in 2024. Let's listen to experts suggest good days and times to bring fortune and luck to the homeowner.
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