Guide to Preparing the New Year’s Eve Offerings Table

As Tet approaches, the warm spring atmosphere spreads everywhere. This is also the time when families prepare to tidy up, buy necessary items to welcome the New Year. Let’s take a look at how to arrange the offerings for the New Year’s Eve ceremony.

When is New Year’s Eve 2024?

The Lunar New Year’s Eve for Tet Nguyen Dan in 2024 will fall on Friday, February 9, 2024.

Setting Up the Altar

The altar is a place of remembrance, a miniature world of the deceased.

In Vietnamese families, there is usually an altar for ancestors (also known as the altar for the deceased). Depending on the household, the decoration and arrangement of the altar may vary. The altar serves as a place of remembrance, a miniature world of the deceased. Two candles symbolize the sun and moon, while incense represents the stars. Two incense bowls are placed symmetrically, and behind the candles are typically two branches of paper chrysanthemums with many small flowers surrounding a large one. Some households may also use “golden branches and jade leaves” (a type of paper offerings) with hopes for a fruitful year in business, aiming for profits five or ten times greater than the previous year.

In the center, there is often a “cosmic” axis represented by a piece of agarwood rising in the incense bowl. Many families place two plates for fruits on either side of the incense and candles, called the five-fruit tray (the types of fruits may vary by region, but each has its significance). In front of the incense bowl, a bowl of clear water is placed, considered sacred water. Two sugarcane stalks are placed on either side of the altar to symbolize the ancestors returning to their descendants, guiding the spirits from the heavens back to the earthly realm…

On New Year’s Eve, families that have prepared offerings will present them on the altar and recite the New Year’s Eve prayer to wish for a year filled with luck and peace, avoiding difficulties and misfortunes.

What is the New Year’s Eve Ceremony?

The New Year’s Eve ceremony is an indispensable ritual, commonly observed during the Tet Nguyen Dan holiday by Vietnamese families. New Year’s Eve offerings are also known as “Tru Tich”, which means to eliminate demons and the misfortunes of the past year to prepare for a better new year.

Therefore, the New Year’s Eve ceremony is typically conducted at the moment of transition between the old and new years during Tet Nguyen Dan, specifically performed from 11 PM to 1 AM.

Outdoor New Year’s Eve Offerings

The New Year’s Eve ceremony is conducted at the moment of Chinh Ty, exactly at midnight on the 30th of the last lunar month.

According to ancient customs, the New Year’s Eve is organized to welcome the Heavenly Generals (12 supervising officers). At that time, they inspect the earthly realm, and due to their haste, cannot enter the house, so the offerings are typically placed outside the main entrance of each home. After a year, the old supervising officer (行遣) who managed the earthly realm in the previous year hands over the responsibilities to the new officer who will govern the earthly realm in the new year. Each year features a different officer, and after 12 years, the officers rotate back. The twelve supervising officers and judges include:

• Year of the Rat: Chu Wang, Heavenly General, Li Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Ox: Zhao Wang, Heavenly General, Qu Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Tiger: Wei Wang, Heavenly General, Xiao Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Rabbit: Zheng Wang, Heavenly General, Liao Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Dragon: Zuo Wang, Heavenly General, Biao Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Snake: Wu Wang, Heavenly General, Xu Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Horse: Jin Wang, Heavenly General, Ren Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Goat: Song Wang, Heavenly General, Lin Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Monkey: Qi Wang, Heavenly General, Song Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Rooster: Lu Wang, Heavenly General, Ju Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Dog: Viet Wang, Heavenly General, Cheng Tiao Judge.
• Year of the Pig: Liu Wang, Heavenly General, Nguyen Tiao Judge.

New Year’s Eve offerings.

The offering tray is arranged with sincere reverence to send off the Heavenly Officers who have overseen us in the previous year back to the Heavenly Court and welcome the new officer who will take charge of the earthly realm in the coming year. Due to the urgency of the handover, the officers can only eat hastily or take food with them, or even just witness the host’s sincerity. On the offering table, there should be an incense bowl, two oil lamps or two candles.

The offerings include: A whole pig or chicken, sticky rice cake, candies, betel leaves, fruits, rice wine, and paper offerings. The Tru Tich ceremony also aims to “eliminate demons”, hence the name “Tru Tich.” The Tru Tich ceremony takes place at the transition of the year and is thus also known as the New Year’s Eve ceremony.

For outdoor New Year’s Eve offerings, the offering tray should only be placed facing North or East depending on the family. This is because the North is the direction to offer to the Supreme Deity, while the East is for offering to the Divine Emperor, the king.

According to the arrangement for outdoor New Year’s Eve offerings, the homeowner needs to prepare a large enough table to display the offerings. The table should be covered with a luxurious yellow cloth. On the ground, a long red cloth is laid out like a red carpet. The offerings should be placed in a clean area. The arrangement for outdoor New Year’s Eve offerings involves placing rice bowls for incense, with two candles or lamps on either side.

As per tradition, during the New Year’s Eve ceremony, salt and rice wine should be prepared. The salt is used to sprinkle around the house, and the rice wine is poured to eliminate misfortunes.

Outdoor New Year’s Eve Prayers

Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)

We bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions.

We respectfully bow to:

– The future coming Maitreya Buddha.

– The Heavenly Emperor and Earth God, all the revered deities.

– The old year supervising officer, Zheng Wang, the God of War, and Li Tiao Judge.

– The new year supervising officer, Zuo Wang, the God of Fire, and Biao Tiao Judge.

– The local city guardian deities.

– The local Earth deities. The land god and the wealth god. The deities governing this area.

Now is the moment of transition between the year of the Cat and the year of the Dragon

We are: …………………………………………………, born in the year: …………………………

Age: …………………..

Residing at house number:……, hamlet/street:……….….., ward …………………………………

District/city ……………………………province/city …………………………………..

On this sacred moment of the New Year just arrived, as the old year passes, welcoming the new year, may the three Yangs be healthy, and all things renewed. Now, the Tai Sui deity, under the command of the Jade Emperor, supervises the people and protects the living, warding off evil spirits. The old officer returns to the palace, bringing blessings. The new officer descends to replace, embodying benevolence, granting wealth and prosperity. On this New Year occasion, we, the faithful host, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and ceremonial rituals, presenting them before the altar, offering to the sacred Buddhas, and dedicating to the revered deities, lighting the incense stick with all our hearts.

We respectfully invite: The old year supervising officer, the new year supervising officer, the local city guardian deities, the local Earth deities, the Happiness God, the Wealth God, the deities of the five directions, the five Earths, the Dragon vein, the Wealth God, the local Kitchen Gods, and all the deities governing this area, humbly requesting your presence to accept these offerings.

We pray that: In the coming year, may we have peace and prosperity. May all our endeavors be successful, and may all people enjoy peace and benefit. May the spirits of the land and the heavens assist us, granting our wishes. Throughout the four seasons, may no disaster come, and may auspicious signs appear in the eight festivals.

With a sincere heart, we humbly ask for your witness.

Respectfully submitted.

Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times, 3 bows)

New Year’s Eve Offerings at Home

The New Year’s Eve offering at home is a ceremony to honor the ancestors at the exact moment of the new year, seeking their blessings for a prosperous year ahead. Scimyst.com has introduced this through the article Guide to Offerings on New Year’s Eve. The offerings include traditional Tet dishes that are prepared with purity and respect, consisting of:

• Savory Dishes: Bánh Chưng (square sticky rice cake); Giò – Chả (Vietnamese pork sausage); Xôi Gấc (red sticky rice); Chicken; Xôi Đậu Xanh (mung bean sticky rice); Other savory dishes according to family preferences.
• Sweet and Vegetarian Dishes: Incense, flowers, candles; Sweets; Tet jams; Alcohol/beer and other beverages.

The New Year’s Eve offering at home is a ceremony to honor ancestors at the exact moment of the new year.

During the New Year’s Eve offering at home, all family members stand solemnly before the altar, praying to the ancestors for their blessings in the new home, wishing for peace, prosperity, and good health. Before inviting the ancestors to celebrate Tet with their descendants, the homeowners pray to the Thổ Công, the deity overseeing the household (usually the ancestor altar is in the center, and the Thổ Công altar is on the left) to seek permission for the ancestors to return for Tet.

New Year’s Eve Prayer at Home

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật (3 times)

Respectfully bow: The Buddha Maitreya, who will be born in the future.

Heavenly Emperor and the Earth Gods.

The local guardian spirits and great kings.

The local deities of land and earth. The God of Kitchen. All local guardian spirits in this area.

Our ancestors, both maternal and paternal spirits.

It is now the moment of New Year’s Eve of the year …….

We are: …………………………………..

Residing at: ……………………………………………..

As the New Year’s moment has arrived, according to the cosmic law, we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, at the hour of the first Spring, celebrating Tet. We sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and rituals, presenting them before the altar, honoring the Buddha and deities, lighting incense sticks with heartfelt prayers.

We respectfully invite: The local guardian spirits and great kings.

The local deities of land and earth.

The God of Kitchen.

The God of Prosperity.

The Five Directions, Five Earths, and the Spirit of Wealth.

The Kitchen God of our family.

All local guardian spirits and deities in this area.

We humbly request your presence before the altar to enjoy these offerings.

We also invite: our esteemed ancestors, great-grandparents, relatives, and all spirits of the family to descend and partake in these offerings.

We invite all the spirits, past and present, who dwell in this land to come forth during this New Year’s Eve to witness the offerings.

With sincere hearts, we ask for your witness.

(This article serves as a reference). Source: Traditional Vietnamese Prayers – Cultural Information Publishing House).

New Year’s Eve Offering Rituals

After preparing all necessary offerings before midnight, at the exact moment of New Year’s Eve, the homeowner will start by rinsing their mouth with fragrant wine, lighting candles, and incense, then sincerely reciting the New Year’s Eve prayer.

After completing the New Year’s Eve prayer, the homeowner will stick the incense into the holder and bow in all directions, wishing for the deities to bless the family with a warm and happy new year.

Offering Tables Across the Three Regions

Northern Region: The traditional Tet offering table typically consists of bowls and plates: 4 bowls, 4 plates; for larger offerings, it could be 6 bowls, 6 plates or 8 bowls, 8 plates…

• Bowls include: Braised pig trotter with bamboo shoots, mixed vegetable soup, chicken liver vermicelli, and meatballs.
• Plates include: Sticky rice/Bánh Chưng, boiled chicken, meat jelly, Vietnamese pork sausage, stir-fried pork, and additional plates of salad and pickled onions. The chicken used for New Year’s Day must be a male castrated chicken prepared since the afternoon of the 30th or the one for the year-end offering.

Central Region: The offering table includes both Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét, and many dishes are prepared to have an “extravagant” meal, including: a plate of pickled vegetables, Huế-style pork sausage, meat jelly, chicken salad with Vietnamese coriander, Huế-style pancake, boiled pork, sour vegetables, a bowl of dried bamboo shoots soup, Huế-style vermicelli, fried fish, or fried spring rolls…

In many places, there are also dishes like lotus stem salad, stomach salad, rice cake, or special dishes like beef salad, shrimp cakes, and grilled pork skewers offered to the ancestors during Tet.

Southern Region: The Tet offering usually has many cold dishes due to the hot weather. The offerings include Bánh Tét accompanied by a plate of pickled radish; bamboo shoot soup (using fresh bamboo shoots instead of dried), along with stuffed bitter melon soup, braised pork with eggs and coconut water; boiled pork, shrimp and pork salad, spring rolls, fried spring rolls, pickled vegetables, and pickled shallots.

In fact, beyond its beautiful spiritual significance, the New Year’s Eve offering is also an opportunity for families to gather. Wishing you a joyful and happy Tet holiday with your family.

Notes for New Year’s Eve Offerings

• The offering table should be well-prepared: Historically, the offering table has been a sincere expression of gratitude, not necessarily requiring a complete arrangement. However, this does not permit a careless setup.

Depending on regional customs and local practices, the offering table may vary, but fundamentally, you need incense, candles, tea, wine, salt, rice, fruits, sticky rice, Bánh Chưng,…

According to Chinese beliefs, on New Year’s Eve, all descendants should be present to welcome the ancestors back to celebrate Tet with the family. If the family is not complete, it reflects an incomplete year of happiness.

• If living in an apartment, the homeowner should go to the lobby to make offerings outdoors, allowing for a connection between heaven and earth.
• Depending on the family’s circumstances, offerings can be vegetarian or meat-based, but fundamentally, the offering table should include incense, candles, tea, wine, salt, rice, fruits, sticky rice, Bánh Chưng,… It should not be overly simple.
• On New Year’s Eve, family members should maintain harmony, avoiding arguments or loud disputes.
• Avoid creating loud noises or breaking items.
• Do not look in mirrors on New Year’s Eve, as old beliefs suggest this might reveal spirits, leading to an unlucky year.

New Year’s Eve is a sacred moment for the nation, marking the end of a year and welcoming a new year filled with joy and prosperity. Therefore, the New Year’s Eve offerings are always prepared meticulously by Vietnamese people, from the offering table, rituals, prayers, and the things to avoid on this special night.

Above is the way to arrange the New Year’s Eve offerings outdoors recorded according to the opinions of feng shui experts. We hope that you will find more information to prepare your New Year’s Eve offerings at home neatly and smoothly, wishing for a year filled with luck, prosperity, and well-being.

• Guide to Offerings on New Year’s Eve
• What is the New Year’s Eve Ceremony? – Significance of the New Year’s Eve Ceremony
• How to Prepare a Year-End Offering Meal?
• The Hidden Meaning Behind the Tradition of Ringing Bells to Welcome the New Year on New Year’s Eve