The tray of offerings to Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao is full to represent a prosperous year, so your family needs to prepare solemnly and thoughtfully.
According to folk belief, Tao Quan is the ruler of the fire and knows everything in the house, so people often perform a ceremony to see him off to heaven very solemnly. In order for the Tao Quan to report to the Jade Emperor about the world, each family needs to prepare a thoughtful and beautiful offering. Usually, the traditional offering tray includes a lot of things, there are always dishes and offerings.
What does the offering of Cong Ong Tao include?
Possesty
Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao’s hat is three pieces or three (two men’s hats and one woman’s hat). Hats for the Tao have two dragon wings, the Tao hats do not have dragon wings. These hats have small glittery round mirrors and colorful snow pins. The color of Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao hat, shirt, or jacket changes every year according to the five elements of Hia Ong Tao, a little votive symbol for other offerings: 1 fruit plate, 1 lotus teapot, 3 cups of wine, 1 grapefruit, 1 areca nut, betel leaf, 1 vase of chrysanthemums
The votive items such as hats, coats, hats, etc. will be burned after the worshiping ceremony of Mr. Tao on December 23 along with the old tablet. After that, people set up a new tablet for Tao Gong.
Ceremony to worship Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao.
Offering tray
Depending on each family situation, in addition to the main offerings mentioned above, people either perform a salty ceremony (with chicken sticky rice, boiled pork leg, dishes cooked with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, etc.) or a vegetarian ceremony (with betel nut, flowers, fruits, and paper). gold, banknotes…) to see off Tao Quan.
The traditional tray of offerings to Mr. Tao includes basic dishes such as:
1 plate of rice, 1 plate of salt 1 boiled rooster cross-legged with flowers trimmed with chili peppers or roses (can be substituted with boiled pork or roasted duck) 1 bowl of sprout soup or bamboo shoot soup 1 plate of mixed stir-fry 1 plate of spring rolls, spring rolls fried or frozen meat 1 plate of sticky rice gac 1 plate of braised tea Carp (raw or fried), because according to the concept, carp is the means for Mr. Tao to go to heaven.
Usually, the offerings and ceremonies only include tea, cakes, candies… with the wish that the Tao Quan “sweet voice”. It may not be necessary to make a savory platter with all the above-mentioned dishes. According to the old custom, especially for families with children, people also offer a boiled chicken to the Tao Quan. This boiled chicken must belong to the type of rooster that has just learned to crow (ie, a new-grown chicken) to imply that the Tao Quan begs the Jade Emperor for the child to grow up with a lot of energy and vitality like an old rooster.
Compared to the past, the tray of offerings to Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao today is simpler, and it is not required to have a full range of traditional dishes.
The tray of offerings to Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao does not need to be sophisticated, but it needs to be solemn and thoughtful, showing the sincere heart of the owner in front of the altar of the god who governs the land and the god who governs the kitchen.
How to convert votive paper to Cong Ong Tao properly?
The votive paper offered to Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao includes clothes, hia, and money from the underworld that are burned after the offering on December 23 along with the old tablet. Next, the new owner set up a new tablet for Mr. Cong, and Mr. Tao.
The process of worshiping Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao must be done before the time when Mr. Tao rides a carp to heaven, that is, before 12 o’clock on December 23. So, depending on the conditions, each family can make offerings before that, from December 20 (ie December 20 of the solar calendar) to December 23 at the earliest.
How to convert votive paper for Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao properly?
In the tray of offerings to Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao must have carp. Many regions also offer live carp with the meaning of “carp turning into a dragon” to bring Mr. Tao to heaven. This carp will release life (released into ponds or rivers after offering). If there is no time or conditions to buy live fish, families can turn paper carp along with votive paper and other types of underworld money.
After presenting the ceremony, burning incense, and making vows, wait for the incense to fade, then light another week of incense, give thanks and turn it into votive paper and release the carp into ponds, lakes, rivers, streams… so that the fish can carry Mr. .
Photo: Internet