How to burn votive paper money on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024

How to make a gold medal for the Lunar New Year 2024, picture 1 — How to burn votive paper money on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024. Photo: TL

According to folklore, the votive paper burning ceremony (also known as the New Year's thanksgiving ceremony) is usually performed between the 3rd and 7th day of Tet.

Prayer for burning votive paper money on the occasion of the Year of the Dragon 2024 Below is the prayer for burning votive paper money on the occasion of the Year of the Dragon 2024 according to the book "Traditional Vietnamese Prayers" by the Culture and Information Publishing House.

Namo Amitabha Buddha!

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

I respectfully bow to the Emperor of Heaven, the Mother of Earth, and all the deities.

I respectfully bow to the current year's governor, the local tutelary god, the local god of the land, the kitchen god, the dragon god, and the gods.

I respectfully bow to my ancestors.

We, the believers, are... residing at...

Today is the day… of January 2024, the year of the Wood Dragon. I, the believer, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, fruit juice, gold, silver, tea, and wine to present before the altar, respectfully reporting: The spring feast is over, the New Year has passed, now I would like to burn gold and silver, to thank the gods, and to escort the spirits back to the underworld.

We respectfully ask for your protection and blessing for our children and grandchildren to be safe and for our family to be prosperous. We respectfully offer our humble offerings and respectfully bow to you, asking for your protection and blessing.

Namo Amitabha Buddha!

Sample prayer for burning votive paper in "Ancestor Worship Collection"

Today is the day…

At village… commune/ward… district/county… province/city…

The believer is… with the whole family respectfully worshiping.

Today is Thanksgiving Day.

Respectfully prepare an offering consisting of…, called a humble offering, respectfully offering to: Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan, the family's ancestors, the local Tho Cong, and all the deities.

Before the altar of...

Respectfully said:

The spring party is over

Thanksgiving Ceremony

Farewell procession

Back to the underworld

New Year's Eve

The whole family is looking forward to it.

Save the blessings and save the grace

Dear God,

bless

Yang mechanism Yin tomb

All good places

Security children

Operate smoothly

Beware!

Meaning of the gold burning ceremony

This is the ceremony of burning incense, clothes, and votive objects to send ancestors to the underworld after 3 days of celebrating Tet with their children and grandchildren. Therefore, people often call the votive burning ceremony the ceremony to send off ancestors on the first day of the year. The votive burning ceremony shows respect and gratitude to ancestors and wishes for a year of good luck, peace, and prosperity.

According to popular belief, there must be a thanksgiving ceremony for the homeowner's sincerity to be witnessed, so the votive paper burning ceremony is very important on Tet holiday. After the ceremony, the homeowner proceeds to burn the votive paper. The money and gold of the family gods are burned first, followed by the money and gold and belongings of the ancestors. The place where the votive paper is burned usually has a long sugar cane with the meaning of being used as a walking stick for the soul to carry the goods to the underworld.

Offerings for burning votive paper in 2024 include:

Incense, flowers, water, fruit (five fruits), betel and areca, wine, lamps, candles, candy. Savory offerings: sticky rice, chicken, banh chung, complete and pure Tet dishes.

PV (t/h)

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