Young couple in Hanoi busy making offerings to Ong Cong Ong Tao

Young couples prepare the ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods in the same way as the previous generation, but simpler and quicker. Images from some families in Hanoi .

On the morning of January 21, markets in Hanoi were crowded with customers coming to buy things to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao . Many people in the North believe that after 12 noon on December 23, Tao Quan will go to heaven, so they must worship 12 to 24 hours in advance.

At 7:30 a.m., Hoai Nguyen went to Cau Giay market to buy offerings. She consulted instructions on how to make offerings to be more proactive when shopping. "Even though I am young, I always prepare everything for traditional cultural offerings. However, I usually choose a simple, not too elaborate way," Hoai said.

In Hoai's opinion, votive paper is also an indispensable offering, but she only buys the right amount.

After cleaning the altar, removing the incense sticks and wiping it with cinnamon water, Hoai looked up a prayer on her phone and began the ceremony. Today, her husband was at work and not at home, so Hoai arranged the arrangements herself, lit incense at noon and then went to release the fish.

The Hoai family's savory offering tray only includes sticky rice, roast meat, rice soup... along with votive hats and golden carp.

Tuan Minh - Minh Hanh's family also arranged a simple ceremony today. In the first year of living alone, holding the ceremony to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao by themselves, the young couple consulted their parents and were instructed to prepare a full and suitable offering tray. "The entire offering tray was prepared by my mother-in-law. She ordered the offerings online so she bought them for the couple. My parents' point of view is to minimize the offerings so that everything is complete and sufficient," Minh Hanh said.

According to Vietnamese tradition, the offering tray for the Kitchen Gods does not need to be too luxurious, with high and full trays or expensive offerings... Depending on the specific conditions, each family will prepare the offering to burn incense in a different way. Today, Minh Hanh's family bought and displayed votive hats, gold and money, fruits, sticky rice, ham... The young couple sincerely prayed, praying for peace and health for the family.