According to Dan Tri reporters, on the morning of January 31 (the 3rd day of Tet), long lines of people lined up from early morning to wait to buy goods at long-standing worship chicken shops on Tran Phu Street (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City).
Shops selling chicken offerings began welcoming customers at 5am, and by noon the number of customers was even greater, with lines stretching nearly 1km.
According to traditional customs, after welcoming grandparents home to celebrate Tet on the 30th of December, on the 3rd day of Tet, families will usually prepare a tray of offerings for the New Year (burning votive paper) to send their ancestors and grandparents back to the underworld after celebrating Tet with their children and grandchildren. In the offering tray on the 3rd day of Tet, a quality, carefully selected boiled rooster is indispensable.
The buying and selling scene was bustling, the service staff did not stop working.
Here, shops sell a full portion of chicken, porridge and salad. Although the price of chicken for the third day of Tet is more expensive than usual, many people still think it is acceptable during Tet. Accordingly, the price of boiled chicken, whether it is a hen or a rooster, is 350,000 VND/portion, 20,000 VND more expensive than usual.
Many stores have to increase their chicken boiling capacity by boiling 3-4 pots at the same time, with the largest pot holding about 150 chickens at a time.
"Every year on the third day of Tet, the store plans to serve customers nearly 1,000 chickens for offerings. Most people buy them to display on the altar to send off their ancestors," said a chicken store owner.
The chickens for offerings must meet the criteria of being plump, with tight skin, big, beautiful and delicious.
Many people had money in hand waiting to receive chicken. If they did not order many days in advance, customers who came to buy chicken had to wait in line for about 15 minutes before it was their turn to buy.
In case there is no more chicken waiting to be boiled, customers have to wait nearly 1 hour to get their turn to buy.
"Every year on the third day of Tet, I have to wait in line to buy because on this day everyone needs to buy chickens for offerings. On this day, it is difficult to buy two or more chickens without ordering in advance," said Ms. Tam (35 years old).
At noon, the line of people looking to buy chicken offerings grew longer. Despite the crowds, many people said they were willing to stand in long lines in the hot sun to wait to buy chicken offerings.
Most customers buy 2 to 3 portions of boiled chicken.
Some customers with long-term experience buying chicken at chicken shops on Tran Phu Street said they all proactively placed orders and paid for them many days before Tet.
"The chickens at the boiled shops are delicious and look beautiful. Even though the prices are different during Tet, I'm still satisfied and order in advance. I can get them on the third day of Tet without having to wait in line, and have time to worship my ancestors in time for noon," said Mr. Quy (43 years old).
The staff continuously boils chicken and chops it up on the spot to sell to customers in time.
The chicken was immediately packaged and sold out.
The offering ceremony to burn votive paper money shows respect and prays for ancestors to bless their descendants, for a year of good fortune, smoothness and luck. Therefore, this day is one of the most important offering days.
In the offering tray, the chicken must be big, firm, have beautiful legs and be carefully arranged. This is an indispensable sacrificial object in traditional rituals on the offering tray.
Dantri.com.vn
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