What is the auspicious date for the ancestral worship ceremony (Cúng đưa ông bà)?

What is the auspicious date for the ancestral worship ceremony (cúng đưa ông bà) in 2025?

An auspicious day to perform the ritual of sending off ancestors for the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025.

According to feng shui experts, the ritual of bidding farewell to ancestors does not have a fixed date.

The homeowner can choose and perform the ritual on a day they deem suitable between the 3rd and 7th day of the Lunar New Year. Most families choose the 3rd or 4th day of the Lunar New Year to burn the offerings.

The auspicious time to perform the ritual of sending off ancestors for the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025.

To ensure the ancestral worship ceremony during Tet goes smoothly and brings good fortune, choosing an auspicious time is extremely important. Below are the auspicious time slots for the ancestral worship ceremony in 2025 – the Year of the Snake:

Third day of Tet: Tan Mao hour (5am – 7am), Giap Ngo hour (11am – 1pm), Binh Than hour (3pm – 5pm), Dinh Dau hour (5pm – 7pm).

Fourth day of Tet: Hour of the Rabbit (5am – 7am), Hour of the Horse (11am – 1pm), Hour of the Monkey (3pm – 5pm), Hour of the Rooster (5pm – 7pm).

Fifth day of Tet: Hour of the Rabbit (5am – 7am), Hour of the Snake (9am – 11am), Hour of the Monkey (3pm – 5pm), Hour of the Dog (7pm – 9pm).

Seventh day of the Lunar New Year: Tiger Hour (3am – 5am), Dragon Hour (7am – 9am), Snake Hour (9am – 11am), Monkey Hour (3pm – 5pm), Rooster Hour (5pm – 7pm), Pig Hour (9pm – 11pm).

Prayer for the ancestral worship ceremony during Tet (Lunar New Year) 2025 (Year of the Snake).

A guide on how to properly burn votive paper during Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

After preparing the offering tray, the homeowner will light incense and perform a prayer to bid farewell to their ancestors. When the incense has burned out, the homeowner will clasp their hands and bow three times to ask permission to perform the ritual of burning the paper offerings.

When burning offerings, the homeowner should first offer them to the deities, then to their ancestors. The place where the offerings are burned should be clean and well-ventilated, avoiding any crowding or haste. The offerings should also be burned separately, not mixed together arbitrarily.

Regarding the burning of votive paper, the offerings to deities are burned first, followed by those for ancestors. The offerings for those who have recently passed away within the year are burned last.

After the paper money and offerings have been completely burned, the homeowner should sprinkle some more wine. Traditionally, this act helps the ancestors receive the offerings presented by their descendants.

The offerings for the ancestral worship ceremony can be shared by the family after the ceremony is over.

Nowadays, burning votive paper during the ritual of offering sacrifices is recommended to be limited to avoid waste, protect the environment, and minimize the risk of fire and explosions.

Most importantly, the altar must always have incense burning throughout the three days of Tet, and the prayers and offerings must be performed with sincere reverence by the homeowner.

Prayer for burning offerings on the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake 2025)

This prayer is used when burning votive paper money or performing the ritual of burning offerings.

(Used when burning votive paper money, in the ritual of burning offerings)

- Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)

- I respectfully bow to the nine directions of heaven, the ten directions of all Buddhas, and all the Buddhas of the ten directions.

- I respectfully bow before Heaven, Earth, Dragon Vein, Kitchen God, and all revered deities.

- I respectfully bow before Heaven and Earth, and all the Venerable Deities.

- I respectfully bow before the presiding deity of the year, the local tutelary deity, the earth deities, the kitchen god, and the dragon vein deity.

- I respectfully bow before my ancestors, both paternal and maternal, and all departed spirits.

Today is the 3rd day of the first lunar month of the year of the Snake (2025).

We are: ...........................years old.....................

Currently residing at................................

With sincere hearts, we prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and ceremonial wine, respectfully placing them before the altar. We humbly present: the spring feast has ended, the New Year's Day has passed, and now we respectfully burn the gold and silver offerings, giving thanks to the deities and escorting the departed spirits back to the underworld.

We humbly pray for blessings, grace, protection, and guidance for both the living and the deceased, that all things be auspicious, that our descendants may have everything they wish for, that all things be peaceful, that wealth and prosperity be abundant, and that our family flourish.

With sincere reverence and humble offerings, we respectfully present this gift, humbly requesting your merciful consideration and witness.

Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)