What is the correct way to worship Tao Quan?

People worship Tao Quan on December 23, hoping that the Tao will help them keep the family “fireplace” warm and happy. But how to worship properly?

Only worship Tao Quan within the family

According to the Vietnamese legend of the Kitchen Gods, every year on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, the Kitchen Gods ride carp to heaven to report everything that happens in the family to the Jade Emperor.

According to Professor of History Le Van Lan, worshiping the Kitchen Gods has two layers of meaning. Its original meaning is the kitchen fire, symbolizing the warmth and abundance of ethnic groups. Later, based on the legends related to the kitchen fire, people created the story of "two men and one woman" (Earth god, House god, Kitchen god), and still carries the meaning of wishing for a prosperous life, with the kitchen fire always burning.

Regardless of the level of meaning, the custom of worshiping Tao Quan is a cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people that needs to be preserved and promoted.

The worship of Tao Quan only takes place within the family, with a clean meal and three carps - the vehicle for Tao Quan to go to Heaven to report on the family's work in the past year. People should not worship Tao Quan in a communal place of worship.

According to Gia dinh.net