What is the custom of "Xong Dat"?

The custom of “Xông đất” (first visitor of the year) is an ancient tradition, believed that the first person to enter the house to wish for a Happy New Year will bring fortune. It is advisable to choose someone whose age aligns well with the homeowner’s to perform this ritual.

Understanding the Custom of Xông Đất

Xông đất, also known as “đạp đất,” is a long-standing tradition in Vietnam. Ancients believed that the first person to visit and offer New Year greetings to a family, if they are of compatible age with the homeowner, would ensure a year filled with luck and prosperity for the household.

For this reason, after the stroke of midnight, during the first moments of the New Year, Vietnamese people have historically placed great importance on the custom of “xông đất.”

Significance of Xông Đất

According to ancient beliefs, everything in the house is fresh after the New Year’s Eve, which is why homeowners often hope that the first visitor will bring luck, wealth, and prosperity to the family. Therefore, the first guest to visit on New Year’s Day is highly valued.

This guest, arriving on the morning of the first day of the new year, should be pre-arranged by the homeowner and typically brings fruits or traditional sweets, along with lucky money if there are children in the house. The homeowner warmly welcomes them, receiving their good wishes for the family.

The first visitor to wish a Happy New Year is highly valued. (Illustrative image).

The custom of the first visitor during the New Year occurs shortly after the first person arrives to wish the homeowner well. They typically stay for about ten to fifteen minutes to wish the family luck for the entire year.

Even this brief visit brings joy and confidence that the family will enjoy a fortunate year. Moreover, the person performing “xông đất” feels happy as they contribute good wishes and positive energy to others.

How to Xông Đất at the Beginning of the Year

Factors such as feng shui elements, color compatibility, and personal zodiac signs are considered when choosing someone to perform “xông đất” at the start of the year. According to this custom, the homeowner invites those whose age aligns with theirs to be the first guests from midnight until the morning of the New Year.

The visitor must have a compatible zodiac sign with the homeowner’s zodiac animal of the year, avoiding “tứ hành xung” (the four zodiac signs that clash in many aspects of life). After completing the visit, the guest typically gives lucky money primarily intended for the children in the family. Following this, both the homeowner and the guest exchange well wishes, and the homeowner prepares food and tea.

This sharing of food is symbolic; both guest and host converse and share positive thoughts. After about 20 minutes, the visitor leaves. Other guests with different zodiac signs may visit to wish the family well, and although their zodiac signs are not identical, it will not negatively impact the homeowner. Additionally, many families use natural materials to cleanse their homes, creating a fresh and clean atmosphere for the family.

Selecting the Right Person for Xông Đất

In ancient times, there were two primary methods to choose a suitable person to perform “xông đất” on the first day of the year.

For officials or educated individuals, they would select a visitor whose zodiac sign aligns with the homeowner’s. The person performing “xông đất” should be the male head of the family.
For laborers, the criteria are simpler. The chosen visitor must be healthy, kind-hearted, and come from a harmonious and prosperous family.

In some regions, certain families still hold the outdated belief that if a daughter or woman visits to perform “xông đất,” it brings misfortune to the homeowner. Consequently, on New Year’s Day, women often hesitate to visit their brothers and relatives. However, as society becomes more progressive, modern, and egalitarian, the outdated belief in “favoring males over females” is gradually being discarded.

Today, there is a growing trend to select individuals of any gender who are compatible in age. Furthermore, those who are kind, successful, and have a good character are preferred to perform “xông đất.”

According to some feng shui experts, to choose the right person for “xông đất” at the beginning of the year, the homeowner should select someone who is honest, innocent, prosperous in business, with a complete family (having both sons and daughters), and possesses a bright appearance and healthy physique, without any recent bereavement, as they are considered to bring good fortune to the homeowner in the new year.

Choosing the Zodiac for Xông Đất in 2024

First and foremost, one needs to select a visitor whose zodiac sign is compatible with the homeowner’s, avoiding any signs that are in conflict, such as Lục xung, Lục hại… If the chosen visitor has a compatible zodiac sign, it will help the homeowner enjoy a prosperous year filled with luck and peace for the family.

Here are the compatible zodiac signs for “xông đất” in 2024 for each homeowner’s zodiac: