Cúng vía Thần Tài (God of Wealth day, 10th of the first lunar month)
Also called: Vía Thần Tài, Ngày vía Thần Tài, Cúng Thần Tài Thổ Địa, Văn khấn ngày vía Thần Tài mùng 10 tháng Giêng
- Festivals through the year
Culture and belief A record of custom.
Among traders in particular, the tenth day of the first lunar month is regarded as the day of Thần Tài, the God of Wealth. Offerings are made at the low altar shared with Thổ Địa, the Earth God; the prayer is usually the same one used on the first and fifteenth of the month.
At a glance
- When it is held
- The 10th day of the first lunar month
- This year (2026)
- Next year (2027)
- For whom
- Thần Tài (God of Wealth), usually worshipped together with Thổ Địa (Earth God) on the same altar
- Where
- Thần Tài altar
- Who makes the offering
- The head of the household, the shop owner
Each family and each region may do it differently.
The offering tray
Incense, lamps, candles
- Hương (incense sticks)
- Đèn (altar lamp)
Flowers
- Hoa tươi (fresh flowers)
Tea, rice wine, water
- Rượu trắng (white rice liquor)
Fruit
- Trái cây (fruit)
Xôi (steamed sticky rice) and cakes
- Xôi (sticky rice)
- Chè (sweet dessert soup)
Meat and savoury dishes
- Tam sên (three small offerings: pork, egg, shrimp)
- Boiled chicken or roast pork
Votive paper
- Vàng mã (votive paper offerings)
Nationwide
- When
- The 10th day of the first lunar month
- Where the offerings are set
- The altar of Thần Tài (God of Wealth) and Thổ Địa (Earth God) (a small shrine placed in a corner of the house)
| Offering | Vegetarian or not |
|---|---|
| Meat and savoury dishes | |
| Bộ tam sên (set of three offerings) | Meat or fish |
| Boiled chicken or roast pork | Meat or fish |
| Fruit | |
| Fruit, fresh flowers | Vegetarian |
| Xôi (steamed sticky rice) and cakes | |
| Xôi (steamed sticky rice), chè (sweet soup) | Vegetarian |
| Incense, lamps, candles | |
| Votive paper, incense, lamps, wine | |
South
- When
- The 10th day of the first lunar month
- Where the offerings are set
- The altar of Thần Tài (God of Wealth), usually placed in a corner of the house
| Offering | Vegetarian or not | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||
| Fresh flowers, fruit | Vegetarian | |
| Incense, lamps, candles | ||
| Incense, lamps, votive paper | ||
| Meat and savoury dishes | ||
| Bộ tam sên (three-item set): pork, shrimp, eggs | Meat or fish | |
| Grilled cá lóc (snakehead fish) | Meat or fish | Required. Some guides call it indispensable; kept whole and unscaled, with a peeled stick of sugarcane pushed through the mouth to keep the fish straight |
| Shrimp, crab | Meat or fish | |
| Heo quay (roast pork) | Meat or fish | Required. VnExpress lists it among the indispensable dishes |
| Tea, rice wine, water | ||
| Rice liquor | ||
Steps of the rite
- PreparationWipe the statue and the altar with water infused with pomelo flowers or mixed with a little white wine
- Reciting the prayerArrange the offerings, light incense, read the prayer text
- Burning votive paperWhen the incense has burned two thirds, give thanks, burn votive paper, and share the offerings
What is avoided
- OfferingsAccording to VTC News, people avoid offering grilled fish that is burnt, peeled, chipped or unsightly
The custom
In folk belief, the 10th day of the first lunar month is the day of Thần Tài (God of Wealth); a tale says it is the day he regained his memory and flew back to heaven. Traders make offerings and, by custom, buy gold on this day hoping for prosperity all year.
According to VTC News (2023), the custom of making offerings to Thần Tài on the 10th of the first month was at first limited to some traders in TP.HCM and has become widespread only over the past ten-odd years.
Questions
What goes on the offering tray for Thần Tài (God of Wealth) day on the 10th of the first month?
The tray usually holds fresh flowers, fruit, incense and lamps, votive paper, rice liquor and the bộ tam sên set (pork, shrimp, eggs); many households add xôi (steamed sticky rice), sweet soup, boiled chicken or roast pork. According to VTC News and VnExpress, in the South grilled cá lóc (snakehead fish) is considered indispensable, together with shrimp, crab and roast pork.
Communities and regions
More about Cúng vía Thần Tài (God of Wealth day, 10th of the first lunar month)
Sources
- Văn khấn cúng ngày vía Thần Tài mùng 10 tháng Giêng (docungtamlinh.com.vn)
- Văn khấn cúng thần tài (vankhan.vn)
- Vì sao mâm cỗ cúng thần Tài của người miền Nam phải có cá lóc nướng? (vtcnews.vn)
- Những mặt hàng đắt khách ngày Thần Tài (vnexpress.net)
Part of the open datasets Types of Vietnamese offering rites and Vietnamese offering procedures, licensed CC BY 4.0.
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