How to properly burn votive paper money?

The timing of burning votive paper is very important in worship rituals (illustrative image).

Burning votive paper is a traditional ritual in Vietnamese religious culture, especially during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), ancestral worship, or other important occasions throughout the year.

This is an act of showing respect and remembrance for ancestors, and a prayer for peace, prosperity, and good fortune.

However, to burn votive paper properly and achieve spiritual effectiveness, the person performing the ritual needs to adhere to certain principles and procedures.

Choose the right time.

The timing of burning votive paper is very important in worship rituals. Traditionally, Vietnamese people often choose the full moon day, the first day of the month, or holidays and festivals to perform this ritual.

This is not only because it is the time when ancestral spirits often return to visit, but also because of the belief that on these days, the spirits are more likely to receive offerings.

In some families, the timing of burning votive paper is also chosen based on auspicious dates and times according to the lunar calendar, so that the homeowner can pray for good fortune and wealth.

Choose an item to burn as an offering.

The items used for burning as offerings are mainly paper offerings, made from paper and shaped similarly to everyday objects, including gold coins, houses, cars, clothes, decorative items, etc.

However, when choosing votive paper offerings, attention should be paid to criteria such as attractive appearance, good quality, and ensuring they are not torn or excessively old.

Prepare the space and materials.

It is advisable to burn votive paper outside in the yard or in well-ventilated areas to allow for air circulation (illustrative image).

The space for burning incense and offerings should be prepared to be clean, well-ventilated, and respectful. Before burning the offerings, the homeowner should clean the altar, replace the water used for offerings, and replace the incense and candles.

The offering tray should be fully prepared, including incense, candles, betel nuts, fruits, wine, sweets, and votive paper money.

It is not advisable to burn votive paper inside the house, as this is considered taboo in feng shui. Instead, families usually burn votive paper outside in the yard or in well-ventilated areas to allow for air circulation.

How to perform the ritual of burning votive paper

Once the offerings and items are fully prepared, the homeowner should light incense and invite the ancestors and deities to witness and partake in the ceremony. After the ancestral worship ritual is complete, the homeowner begins the burning of the offerings.

Throughout this process, care must be taken to maintain a dignified atmosphere, avoiding noise or disrespectful behavior.

Burning paper money during Tet (illustrative image)

Fire is used to burn votive paper, but it shouldn't be burned too quickly or too intensely, as this can feel disrespectful.

To symbolize the offering of gifts, the homeowner can stand nearby and recite a prayer or say words of respect to their ancestors.

Pay attention to taboos when burning votive paper.

Although burning votive paper is a solemn ritual, the homeowner should pay attention to avoiding the following taboos during the process:

Do not burn votive paper too early or too late: This can affect the sacredness of the offering. The most appropriate time is in the morning or afternoon.

Avoid burning excessive amounts of votive paper: Burning too much votive paper will not bring good fortune to the family, but rather cause unnecessary waste.

TB (summary)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/hoa-vang-the-nao-cho-dung-404216.html