Detailed instructions on how to perform the Lunar New Year's Full Moon ceremony in 2026, following the correct rituals.
According to Vietnamese custom, on the full moon day of the first lunar month, families usually prepare a feast to offer to their ancestors. Below is a detailed guide on how to perform the ritualistic offering ceremony for the full moon day of the first lunar month in 2026.
The 15th day of the first lunar month (the full moon of the first lunar month) is an important holiday in Vietnamese tradition. On this day, families usually prepare offerings to the Buddha, ancestors, and grandparents to pray for a prosperous, abundant, and healthy year.
Depending on their circumstances, each family will make offerings at different times. However, not everyone knows how to prepare the offerings, choose the right day and time, or perform the rituals for the Lunar New Year's Full Moon ceremony correctly.
What are the auspicious days and times for offering prayers on the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month in 2026?
The full moon of the first lunar month of 2026 (or January 15th, 2026 according to the lunar calendar) falls on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 according to the Gregorian calendar.
According to feng shui expert Nguyen Song Ha, there are three auspicious times to offer prayers on the 15th day of the first lunar month: the hour of Mao (5-7 am); the hour of Ty (9-11 am); and the hour of Than (3-5 pm).
According to experts, if offering prayers for the full moon of the first lunar month falls on January 14th, homeowners can choose the hours of Thin (7am-9am); Mui (1pm-3pm) and Dau (5pm-7pm).
This year, the main day of the Lunar New Year's Full Moon falls in the middle of the week, so many families, perhaps due to work commitments, will hold the ceremony on the 12th or 13th of the lunar month.
However, similar to other holidays, sincerity remains the most important thing. Experts suggest that homeowners can offer prayers on the full moon day of the first lunar month without being too strict about choosing an auspicious time if circumstances do not allow it.
Offering tray for the Lunar New Year's Full Moon Festival in 2026
According to cultural researcher and feng shui expert Pham Dinh Hai (Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations), unlike the Lunar New Year - which usually features lavish feasts - offerings for the Full Moon Festival in the first lunar month should prioritize purity and serenity.
However, depending on the circumstances and wishes of each family, the homeowner may prepare different offerings or ceremonial items, as long as they demonstrate sincerity.
Expert Pham Dinh Hai suggests that offerings for the Lunar New Year's full moon ceremony should include plenty of fresh fruits, pastries, and sweet rice porridge.
In particular, homeowners should light additional lamps and candles to symbolize light and wisdom (the tradition of lighting lamps on the Lantern Festival).
According to culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet (Hanoi), the traditional offering tray for the Lunar New Year's full moon includes: a vegetarian offering to the gods and Buddha, and a meat offering to the ancestors.
The vegetarian offering to the gods and Buddha includes: fruits, sweet rice porridge, various bean dishes, glutinous rice balls in sweet soup, etc. A special feature of this vegetarian offering is the presence of glutinous rice balls in sweet soup. The meaning of eating glutinous rice balls on the Lantern Festival is to wish for everything to go smoothly and successfully.
The offerings for ancestral worship usually vary depending on the region and the economic conditions of each family. In the North, there are dishes like braised pork trotters with dried bamboo shoots, fish ball soup, and fried spring rolls, while in the Central region, offerings include pork, pickled bean sprouts, and Vietnamese sausage.
Meanwhile, people in the South celebrate the Lunar New Year with dishes like bitter melon soup, braised pork, and shrimp and pork salad…
Besides sincerely preparing offerings, the homeowner needs to keep the worship space solemn and clean.
During the ceremony, family members should maintain a cheerful and harmonious attitude, avoiding arguments or inappropriate speech in order to preserve the purity of the occasion.
Prayer for the Full Moon Ceremony of the First Lunar Month in 2026
Below is the prayer for the Full Moon Festival in the first lunar month, according to the book.Traditional Vietnamese prayers(Culture and Information Publishing House), readers can refer to:
I bow down to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of the Buddhas, and all the Buddhas of the ten directions.
I respectfully bow before Heaven, Earth, and all revered deities.
I respectfully bow before the local tutelary deity, the local earth deity, the household kitchen god, and all other revered deities.
I respectfully bow before my great-great-grandfathers, great-great-grandmothers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and all relatives from both my paternal and maternal sides.
We, your humble devotees, are:…
Residing at:…
Today is the full moon of the first lunar month of the year Bính Ngọ 2026, coinciding with the Lantern Festival. With sincere hearts, your humble servant has prepared incense, candles, and offerings to present before the altar.
We respectfully invite the local tutelary deity, the local earth god, the household kitchen god, the five directions, the dragon vein, and the god of wealth. We humbly request that these sacred deities hear our invitation, descend before the altar, witness our sincerity, and accept our offerings.
We respectfully invite our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, to hear our earnest prayers and invitations, to descend and witness our sincerity, and to partake in our offerings.
We, your humble devotees, respectfully invite the ancestors, both past and present, residing in this home, to partake of the offerings, witness our sincerity, and bless our family with good fortune in all things. May we be free from calamities throughout the four seasons and enjoy peace and tranquility during all eight festivals.
(After offering prayers, bow three times)