New Year Of Land Genie And Kitchen Gods 2025

As the lunar calendar approaches the threshold of a new year, Vietnam comes alive with the anticipation of welcoming not just the Tet, but also paying homage to the Land Genie and Kitchen Gods. New Year of Land Genie and Kitchen Gods is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture and carries profound spiritual and cultural significance.

The significance of Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao

According to ancient beliefs, aside from being a deity overseeing and supervising all activities within the household, Kitchen Gods are also regarded as divine beings capable of preventing evil spirits from intruding into the home, ensuring peace for the family.

Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao is celebrated on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. On this day, it is believed that the Kitchen Gods, who have been taking care of the family throughout the year, return to heaven to report on the family's activities to the Jade Emperor.

Therefore, worshipping the Kitchen Gods holds significance in seeking tranquility, abundance, and warmth for the family in the upcoming year. Additionally, it symbolizes the reverence for the "Kitchen Deity," who governs the culinary affairs within the household.

Kitchen Gods worship day is on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month annually

Regional distinctions in New Year of Land Genie and Kitchen Gods celebrations

Vietnam, with its diverse cultural tapestry, witnesses unique variations in the celebration of Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao across its three regions.

Northern Vietnam

In the Northern, people usually start worshiping the Kitchen Gods from around the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the latest time is around noon on the 23rd day. They often use carp for the ritual, either live carp or paper carp. Afterward, the carp is released into a body of water. The offering tray in the northern region typically includes costumes and hats for the Kitchen Gods, sticky rice, chicken, spring rolls, pork sausage, bamboo shoot soup,...

Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao is a significant day in Vietnamese culture

Central Vietnam

People in the Central region tend to have the most elaborate Kitchen Gods worship ritual. They often offer a paper horse with a full saddle, burn a lot of gold and silver paper, and offer a wide range of offerings. They also renew the incense burner, clean and tidy the surroundings, and bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods by placing the clay effigy outside the ancestral altar. The effigy is then taken to the community shrine, and a new statue is placed back on the altar.

The Central region has elaborate rituals for worshiping the Kitchen Gods

Southern Vietnam

In the past, people in the Southern region of Vietnam used to worship the Kitchen Gods at night, from 8 pm to 11 pm on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. They believed that the ritual should take place after the family had finished their dinner and stopped using the kitchen to avoid disturbing the Kitchen Gods. However, due to cultural exchange, many households now perform the ritual earlier. The offering tray in the southern region usually includes sweet soup, black sesame candy, peanuts, three small cups of water, incense sticks, storks and horses on paper.

Worship offerings vary by region and family circumstances

The New Year of the Land Genie and Kitchen Gods serves as a beautiful testament to Vietnam's rich cultural diversity. As families across the country come together to bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods, each region adds its unique flavor to the celebration. Let's plan your Vietnam trip to join in the festive atmosphere of the upcoming New Year!