Honor to Kitchen Gods: A Vietnamese tradition

For most Vietnamese people, the traditional festival of Tet (Lunar New Year) has truly began with a ceremony dedicated to Ong Cong (Land Genie) and Ong Tao (Kitchen Gods), held on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar calendar, which this year fell on yesterday.

For such a significant event, all the families are busy preparing a farewell ceremony to those saints, on their yearly visit of Heaven.

As the legend goes, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven.

Illustrative photo from Internet.

During this tradition, yellow and red carps are released into lakes or rivers, which according to popular belief, will help these gods to reach heaven. This is also considered a sign of gratitude and respect towards animals.

Carps are released into lakes or rivers. Photo from Internet

The Vietnamese people also prepare altars with food, water and flowers so that in their long ride on the back of the fish, the gods do not go hungry or thirsty and the path is easier and more relaxing.

Photo from nguoiduatin.vn

On that day, people also burn paper clothing, including hats, robes and boots, intended for use by the genies on the trip beyond.

After their farewell, every home are cleaned and decorated for the coming of Tet, with the belief that a clean house represents a good start.

On New Year's Eve, Ong Cong and Ong Tao will return to earth and resume their caretaking duties in the kitchen, in particular, and the house, in general.

The Kitchen Gods, the guardian spirit of the kitchen, are believed to comprise of two male gods and one female, who bless the household and keep up the kitchen fire, making every member of the family happy and well-off.

The tradition originated in a legend about a woodcutter, a hunter and his wife, who for love and loyalty died by being burned by the flames in the kitchen of the latter and the God of Heaven, seeing that beautiful story, took pity on the lovers and decided to reward them by turning them into gods.

In some areas of the country, another ritual is performed to worship those gods. However, despite these differences, the gods remain important figures in the Vietnamese culture.