"No book says that worshiping the Kitchen Gods must be done before 12 noon."

According to Vietnamese custom, each family has a Kitchen God chef who takes care of the kitchen and on the 23rd of December is the day the Kitchen God goes to heaven to report on the activities of each family during the year.

With such meaning, on the 23rd of December, every family tries to prepare and arrange the offerings to be the most solemn. However, in reality, not everyone fully understands this holiday as well as how to prepare properly. The conversation between the reporter and Prof. Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh - Director of the Center for Research and Preservation of Vietnamese Cultural Beliefs is a useful reference.

Professor, Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh:For Vietnamese people, Ong Cong, Ong Tao Tet is a separate festival but it actually opens the Lunar New Year. According to the Vietnamese and Chinese, each family has an Ong Cong, Ong Tao and on the 23rd of December, he returns to heaven to report to the heavens about the family's achievements in the past year. And Ong Cong, Ong Tao are usually in the kitchen - a place where nothing can be kept secret. Whether the family is good or bad, harmonious or not... Ong Cong, Ong Tao knows everything.

Folk culture and beliefs are interesting in that. Whether there are or not Ong Cong and Ong Tao, the main thing is its educational meaning. How do people live so that at the end of the year, when Ong Cong and Ong Tao return to heaven, they will say good things about that family. And like that, the local deities will bless the family. That is the important educational meaning of Ong Cong and Ong Tao Tet. Using beliefs to educate.

Reporter: Many people believe that the Kitchen Gods must be worshiped before 12 noon on the 23rd of December. Is this true? Can you explain this further?

Professor, Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh:I have not seen any books that talk about this, but through practical observation, I see that it is not necessarily so. Some people worship in the morning, some in the afternoon, some the day before. However, if you worship on the 23rd of December, it is still better, the most important thing is sincerity.

Pv: So, what offerings are indispensable in the offering tray on December 23?

Professor, Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh:Of course, the offerings that families buy for Ong Cong and Ong Tao are hats, shoes, gold coins, etc. Some families offer carp, make trays of food, sticky rice and chicken, etc. In general, all families prepare offerings like that. This may be missing, that may be replaced, but the most important thing is to be sincere, not to do it for the sake of formality. It is not true that a big ceremony in a showy way will bring you blessings and luck. Sincerity is the most important. Our ancestors said, "Sincerity is lighting a stick of incense."

Pv: Nowadays, many families instead of offering live carp, they offer paper carp. What do you think about this?

Professor, Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh:I think it's okay. Offering live carp has the meaning of releasing animals according to the Buddhist perspective because Buddhism encourages vegetarianism, not killing animals, and gaining blessings for the future. Therefore, not only on December 23, but throughout the year, in many Buddhist rituals, there are often rituals of releasing animals such as releasing birds, releasing fish... Of course, on the Kitchen Gods' Day, you can also offer paper carp with the meaning of making a vehicle for him to ride to heaven. In my opinion, the most important thing is sincerity and doing it seriously.

PV: Yes, thank you?