Introduction to Tết Đoan Ngọ and the Meaning of 'Eliminating Pests'
Tết Đoan Ngọ, also known as the Pest-Killing Festival, takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month every year. According to Vietnamese folk legend, on a day after the harvest, pests invaded and damaged crops and food. An old man named Đôi Truân instructed the people to set up a simple altar with tro cakes and fruits, then exercise their bodies; shortly after, the pests fell, and the harvest was saved. From then on, people named this day the Pest-Killing Festival, and because the worship time often falls at midday (giờ Ngọ), it is also called Tết Đoan Ngọ. However, it should be noted objectively that Tết Đoan Ngọ is also popular in many East Asian countries, but Vietnamese people have localized it into a day to remember ancestors, pray for good harvests, and protect health.
In terms of weather, the 5th day of the 5th month is a transitional season when diseases are prone to arise, so customs like pest elimination, eating sour foods, and glutinous rice wine are believed to help cleanse the body. This is a common custom that may vary by region and family, with no single universally correct template.
Preparing the Offerings
The offering tray for Tết Đoan Ngọ is usually prepared thoughtfully, depending on each family's conditions, but the following components are essential:
- Incense (nhang), fresh flowers (often lilies or chrysanthemums), and votive paper (vàng mã).
- Clean water to place on the altar.
- Glutinous rice wine (can be black or white glutinous rice wine, or sweet fermented rice for children).
- Tro cakes (bánh tro) or bánh ú, bánh ít, depending on the region.
- Seasonal sour fruits: plums, sapodilla, watermelon, lychees, bananas, green mangoes, hog plums, or dracontomelon.
- Additionally, many families add tea, sticky rice, or savory dishes like boiled chicken or braised pork, depending on taste.
Notes on Choosing Fruits
- Choose fresh, clean fruits without bruising; wash them before arranging.
- Plums, lychees, and sapodilla are typical fruits because they are in season, with a sweet-sour taste, and are mentioned in many documents.
- For watermelon, choose a ripe one with red flesh to make the tray look beautiful.
How to Arrange the Offering Tray
Arranging the Ancestor Worship Tray
- Place the offering tray on the ancestral altar or the Buddha altar if available. If worshipping both, arrange a separate vegetarian tray for Buddha and a tray for ancestors (which may include meat).
- Arrange according to the principle: incense in the center, flowers on both sides, main offerings like glutinous rice wine, tro cakes, and fruits placed in front, and votive paper in a corner.
- Pour water and wine into small bowls and place them neatly.
- Fruits can be arranged on a plate, preferably whole (not sliced) to enhance solemnity.
Arranging the Outdoor Offering Tray (If Any)
- Some families also worship outdoors to 'eliminate pests' in the fields, with a small tray including tro cakes, fruits, and glutinous rice wine.
- Place the tray on a small table in the yard or in front of the house, facing an area with trees.
Timing and Order of Performance
Worship Time
- According to folk beliefs, the best time to worship is during the middle of the giờ Ngọ, around 12 noon on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. However, many families perform the ritual early in the morning for convenience.
- It is advisable to worship before the family meal, as after the ritual is when everyone eats the 'pest-eliminating' foods.
Ritual Sequence
Step 1: Prepare the Offerings
- Wash the fruits and let them drain.
- Cook or buy tro cakes or bánh ú; peel them if needed, but they can be left whole.
- Pour glutinous rice wine into bowls and water into separate bowls.
- Light incense after arranging everything.
Step 2: Arrange the Offering Tray
- Place all offerings on plates, bowls, or trays.
- Put the tray on the altar or the chosen worship spot.
- The head of the household lights incense (usually 3 sticks) and prays.
Step 3: Perform the Ritual and Pray
- Recite an ancestral prayer with content summarizing: respectfully informing ancestors about Tết Đoan Ngọ, expressing sincerity, offering gifts, and praying for family peace, good harvests, abundant health, and warding off diseases.
- If you do not know the traditional prayer, you can pray sincerely in your own words without being overly formal.
- Wait until the incense has burned about two-thirds, then burn votive paper, and afterward enjoy the offerings.
Step 4: After the Ritual
- The family gathers to eat the offered foods, especially glutinous rice wine, tro cakes, and sour fruits. This is when 'eliminating pests' in the body is believed to happen.
- Children can eat sweet fermented rice (low-alcohol) or fruits.
Important Notes
Safety When Burning Incense and Votive Paper
- When lighting incense, place the incense sticks firmly in an incense bowl with sand or ash, away from flammable materials.
- When burning votive paper, do so in a metal basin or a well-ventilated area, not near curtains or dry trees.
- Do not burn too much votive paper at once to avoid fire hazards.
- Always have an adult supervise when burning, and extinguish completely before leaving.
Regional Variations
- In the North, the offering tray often includes tro cakes, glutinous rice wine, lychees, and plums.
- In the Central region, bánh ít and kê sweet soup may be added.
- In the South, in addition to the above, many families offer sticky rice, sweet soup, or tropical fruits like rambutan and durian.
- Some families also have the custom of picking medicinal leaves at giờ Ngọ to boil for bathing water, but this is not mandatory.
Objective Perspective
- Tết Đoan Ngọ is a beautiful cultural tradition, expressing gratitude to ancestors and wishes for health. Eating glutinous rice wine and sour fruits is only symbolic and has no scientific evidence proving its effect of 'eliminating pests' in the body. Therefore, it should be practiced with a joyful spirit, without excessive worry or belief in medical effects.
Conclusion
Tết Đoan Ngọ is an occasion for family reunions, remembering ancestors, and practicing traditional customs. Preparing offerings and worshipping is not too complicated; the most important thing is sincerity and careful preparation. We hope the above guide helps you have a complete and meaningful Tết Đoan Ngọ.
