are busy to stage a farewell ceremony for the Kitchen Gods (Tao Quan)
on their yearly visit of Heaven.
The Kitchen Gods,
the chief guardian spirit of the kitchen, are believed to comprise two
male gods and one female, who bless the household and keep up the
kitchen fire, making every member of the family happy and wealthy.
As the legend goes, the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the
day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God
of Heaven.
As Tao Quan makes their journey on the
back of fish, it is traditional to release live carps into lakes or
rivers, which is considered a kindhearted deed to pray for good luck.
On that day, people also burn paper clothing,
including hats, robes and boots, intended for use by Tao Quan on the
trip beyond.
After the Kitchen Gods go to Heaven,
Vietnamese normally tidy and decorate their houses to usher in the New
Year as they believe that a clean house represents a fresh star.
Although Vietnamese in regions across the country pay their homage to
Tao Quan in their own special ways, they remain important figures in the
rich texture of Vietnamese New Year.
Beliefs about
the Kitchen Gods have also changed over the year and a number of
Vietnamese families now welcome the ceremony earlier and use paper carps
instead of real offerings to suit the modern life.
The fire in the kitchen is the symbol of not only warm family union,
but also a bumper harvest and agricultural development of Vietnamese
people. The custom of worshipping the Kitchen Gods reflects Vietnamese’s
respect of family happiness as well as their fine tradition lifestyle
on the new year occasion./.
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