The custom of erecting a pole and lamppost to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn)- Along with the custom of releasing carp, on the Kitchen God's Day, December 23rd of the lunar calendar every year, people in some places in Yen Thanh also erect poles and lamp posts to send the Kitchen God to heaven. The poles and lamp posts are meant to protect the homeowner during the time the Kitchen God is away.

Erecting the pole and lamppost requires the cooperation of many people. Photo: Lan Thai.

Early in the morning of December 23, members of Mr. Ho Sy Van's family in Hamlet 5, Bac Thanh Commune were busy preparing for the ceremony to send Ong Tao to Heaven to report the results of the family's year of work to the Jade Emperor. An indispensable item for Mr. Van's family on Ong Tao Day is the lamppost that has been with his family for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Van's family lamppost consists of a large bamboo tree, over 10 meters long, a wooden crane and a phoenix, a light bulb, and a national flag. Mr. Van said that every year on the 23rd of December, his family hangs it in front of the house gate, and takes it down on the 7th to welcome the Kitchen Gods home.

Phoenix image on lamppost. Photo: Lan Thai.

On the morning of December 23, going through small villages in Trung Thanh and Bac Thanh communes, the locals have erected poles and lamp posts in front of their houses, the red flag with yellow star fluttering in the spring rain. The bamboo chosen to make the pole must be tall, straight, free of pests and, importantly, not be short-topped. The pole is often hung with the national flag and a light bulb.

Bamboo used to make the flagpole must be tall, straight, free of pests and especially not have a broken top. Photo: Lan Thai.

Making the lamppost is much more elaborate. The lamppost is made of old, tall, straight, and sturdy bamboo, and can be used year after year. On top of the pole is tied a bunch of chicken feathers as a tip, and below is a wooden phoenix painted red, the phoenix's tail is also decorated with chicken feathers. About a meter away from the phoenix is ​​a wooden crane also painted red, the peacock's "neck" is extended, just enough to serve as a flagpole. Under the phoenix and peacock's necks is a wooden "bell".

Lampposts can be used year after year. Photo: Lan Thai.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Long (born 1938, hamlet 5, Bac Thanh commune) said: "According to legend, in the past, the custom of erecting a pole to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven was only for poor families. The erection of the pole was simple and did not cost anything other than a bamboo tree or a hop tree with the top intact. As for erecting a lamppost, it was only for well-off households, rich households because they had to hire people to carve phoenixes and dragons."

The crane symbolizes strength, meaning that men and boys are always healthy, maintaining the dignity of the house and also expressing the wish for the homeowner to be healthy and live a long life. The phoenix symbolizes women, meaning that women and girls in the house are beautiful, gentle and graceful. The phoenix is ​​placed on a rotating axis, the head of the phoenix rotates in the direction of the wind. The dragon's head is tied to face the homeowner's house with the wish that the homeowner has good health and a long life.

The dragon head is always tied to a lamppost facing the homeowner's house. Photo: Lan Thai.

Mr. Long added that no one remembers when the custom of erecting poles and lamp posts on Kitchen God Day began. Before the August Revolution, in his village there were only about 7 lamp posts belonging to wealthy families. Poor families often erected poles instead. During the war, the practice of erecting poles and lamp posts was lost, but after the country was unified and developed, people came together to restore this unique traditional cultural feature.

Lamppost on Kitchen God Day in Bac Thanh commune, Yen Thanh. Photo: Lan Thai.

The meaning of the pole and lamppost is to send the Kitchen God to Heaven. At the same time, during the days when the Kitchen God is away, the pole and lamppost also ward off evil spirits and protect the homeowner. In the past, in some villages in Bac Thanh, people gathered in groups to erect poles and lampposts together. After finishing the work, they organized a very happy and warm meal. Nowadays, when life is more and more prosperous and full, people also decorate the poles and lampposts with a very elaborate and sophisticated flashing light system.

According to Mr. Tran Minh Ton, in hamlet 4, Bac Thanh commune, "Erecting the pole on the 23rd of December is to send Mr. Tao back to heaven. According to ancient beliefs, the pole is erected on Buddhist land, so it will maintain its sacredness, prevent evil spirits from entering, and protect the family during Mr. Tao's absence. On the seventh day of Tet, after the ceremony to welcome Mr. Tao back home, the pole is also taken down."

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