FVH to hold lecture on Tết traditions

HA NOI — As in previous years, when the lunar year comes to an end, the Friends of Vietnam Heritage (FVH) will host an annual lecture on Tet traditions on Sunday, January 27.

Themed after one of Tet’s most important rituals, the Kitchen God (or ‘Ong Tao’ in Vietnamese), which signals the start of the Tet preparations, the lecture will be conducted by Professor Le Van Lan, a noted author, historian, archaeologist and TV presenter in Viet Nam.

Legend says each home has three kitchen gods overseeing household affairs. On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, each god returns to the Jade Emperor, the King of Heaven, on the back of a carp fish. The kitchen gods report back to the Jade Emperor on each family’s affairs for the past year, returning on New Year’s Eve. People clean their houses and offer sacrifices in order to aid the god’s journey and ensure a good report.

Prof Lan will first explain the origins and rituals of Tet, and then will move on to the legend of the Kitchen God. The lecture’s attendees will participate in sending the three kitchen gods to the Jade Emperor, and a new set of paper clothes will be burnt as an offering to Ong Tao. After the offering, everyone will have chance to release their own live carp into West Lake ‘to carry their family’s report.’ This leads to the Red River, which leads to the ocean and then to the Jade Emperor.

The group will then return to learn about and experience a wide range of traditional Tet foods.

The lecture will take place at the Hanoi Club Hotel, 76 Yen Phu Street, Tay Ho District from 6pm until 9pm. Cost: VND250,000 (including VND50,000 voucher towards the cost of any soft drink or alcohol at the bar, one fish and a traditional Tet buffet). Limit: 40 people. To register, contact John Reilly by emailing lefthanded2hanoi@yahoo.com. — VNS