Vietnamsese Kitchen Gods Day

When peach blossoms bloom and yellow leaves drift through the air, the spirit of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) fills every home.

Among all the spring festivals, one celebration holds special significance: the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, when Vietnamese families bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods as they ascend to heaven.
This isn't just about honoring protective deities - it's a moment for reflection, gratitude, and hope for the year ahead.

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Who are the Kitchen Gods (Ong Cong Ong Tao)?

In Vietnamese folk belief, the Kitchen Gods are divine protectors intimately connected to daily family life. Ong Cong guards the land and property, while Ong Tao (also called Tao Quan) oversees the household, especially the kitchen and hearth fire.

Though Tao Quan originated from the three Chinese Taoist deities (Tho Cong, Tho Dia, and Tho Ky), Vietnamese culture transformed this legend into a deeply humanistic story of "two husbands and one wife" - a tale that resonates with themes of love, forgiveness, and loyalty.

When is Kitchen Gods Day celebrated?

Every year on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, Vietnamese families hold ceremonies to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven, where they report on the family's affairs over the past year.

The ritual typically takes place before noon, when the gods prepare to ascend and present themselves before the Jade Emperor. In 2026, the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month falls on February 10.

Joss paper offerings for Kitchen Gods Day

The legend of the Kitchen Gods: A story of love and sacrifice

While several versions of this legend exist, the most popular tells the poignant story of three people: Thi Nhi and her two husbands, Trong Cao and Pham Lang.
Long ago, Thi Nhi and Trong Cao were a poor but loving couple. However, their inability to have children caused Trong Cao great distress. One day, consumed by anger and frustration, he beat his wife and drove her from their home.

Thi Nhi wandered until she met Pham Lang, a kind man who fell in love with her. They married and built a life together. Meanwhile, Trong Cao, overcome with regret, set out to find his former wife.
Time passed, and Trong Cao's money ran out. Reduced to begging, he happened upon Thi Nhi's house one day when Pham Lang was away. Recognizing her former husband, Thi Nhi invited him in and prepared a meal.

Suddenly, Pham Lang returned home. Fearing her new husband's suspicion, Thi Nhi quickly hid Trong Cao under a haystack in the yard. That night, unaware of what lay beneath, Pham Lang set fire to the haystack to create ash for fertilizing his fields.

Seeing the flames and knowing her former husband was trapped inside, Thi Nhi threw herself into the fire. Witnessing his wife leap into the blaze, Pham Lang followed her. All three perished in the flames.

Moved by their profound loyalty and sacrifice, the Jade Emperor appointed them as the Kitchen Gods, each with specific duties:
•    Pham Lang (Tho Cong): Oversees cooking and the kitchen
•    Trong Cao (Tho Dia): Watches over household affairs
•    Thi Nhi (Tho Ky): Manages market and shopping matters

The deep meaning behind this custom

Spiritual significance
The Kitchen Gods serve as household protectors, maintaining the warm hearth fire that symbolizes abundance, harmony, and happiness. These deities don't just determine fortune and misfortune - they ward off evil spirits and preserve peace for everyone in the home.

Cultural value
The Kitchen Gods ceremony offers an opportunity for reflection on the past year, from joyful moments to valuable lessons learned. The image of carp fish helping the gods ascend to heaven carries powerful messages about aspiration, hope, and faith in the future.

Family importance
This tradition emphasizes the central role of the hearth in family life. The kitchen fire isn't merely for cooking - it's where families gather and bond. The ceremony always involves lighting sacred fires, creating an atmosphere of warmth and love.

How to properly honor the Kitchen Gods

Traditional offerings

The main altar should include:
•    Three ceremonial hats (two men's hats with "dragonfly wings," one woman's hat without)
•    Incense, flowers, and candles
•    Votive papers (paper clothes, horses, and carriages)
•    Three live carp fish (in a water basin)
•    Five-fruit tray (traditional assorted fruits)
•    Betel leaves and areca nuts

Food offerings may include:
•    Savory dishes: Sticky rice with chicken, boiled pork leg, mushroom and bamboo shoot dishes
•    Vegetarian options: Fruits and sweets (depending on family preference)

Ceremony steps
1. Arrange offerings respectfully on the Kitchen Gods altar
2. Light incense and recite prayers with sincere devotion
3. After the incense burns down, light another round for the closing ceremony
4. Burn votive papers to send offerings to the Kitchen Gods
5. Release the carp into rivers, lakes, or ponds to send the gods skyward

The carp release tradition: Symbols of transformation

According to legend, carp are the only creatures that can carry the Kitchen Gods to heaven for their annual report. The image of "carp transforming into dragons" or "carp leaping over the dragon gate" symbolizes:
•    Transcendence and elevation
•    Perseverance through difficulties
•    Dedication to knowledge and success
•    Noble character and positive outcomes

Releasing carp isn't just a beautiful cultural practice - it reflects the cherished Vietnamese value of compassion for all living beings.
Important considerations
•    Maintain a solemn atmosphere showing sincerity and respect
•    Clean the altar thoroughly before the ceremony
•    Prepare complete offerings according to your means
•    Release the fish gently and naturally

Similar traditions across Asia

The Kitchen God custom isn't unique to Vietnam - many Asian countries preserve and practice this tradition with distinctive variations:

China: Birthplace of Kitchen God worship
China is considered the origin of Kitchen God veneration. Chinese families typically hold farewell ceremonies at year's end with these characteristics:
•    Posting Kitchen God paintings near the stove and burning paper effigies
•    Offering malt candy and sweets so "the Kitchen God only speaks good words to the Jade Emperor"
•    Organizing lantern processions and floating lantern ceremonies on rivers during the 15th day of the first lunar month
•    In Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, people write wishes on lanterns before releasing them skyward or floating them on water
•    In Guangdong, festivals combine carp releases with Cantonese opera performances and folk music attracting thousands

Japan: Kitchen Deities in Shintoism
Though not specifically called Kitchen Gods, Japanese people revere kitchen and fire deities in Shinto belief:
•    Oosoji: Year-end house cleaning ritual to welcome good fortune deities
•    Decorating spaces with shimenawa (sacred straw ropes) and presenting offerings before kamidana (household shrines)
•    Hatsumode: First shrine visit of the new year at famous temples like Meiji Jingu and Asakusa
•    Praying for peace and prosperity with a spirit of purification and nature reverence

South Korea: Jowangsin, the Kitchen Deity
Koreans worship Jowangsin, the deity governing the kitchen fire and protecting family prosperity:
•    Performing year-end house cleaning rituals and preparing traditional dishes
•    Placing statues or paintings of the kitchen deity in homes for remembrance and honor
•    Jeju Fire Festival: Lighting large fires in fields to drive away bad luck and pray for bountiful harvests
•    Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival in late March to early April, fostering community unity and celebration

Singapore: Heritage of the Chinese community
In Singapore, the Chinese community preserves Kitchen God customs with distinctive features:
•    Traditional offerings including rice cakes, fresh fruits, and foods symbolizing prosperity
•    Burning joss paper and praying at famous temples like Thian Hock Keng and Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho
•    River Hongbao Lantern Festival at Marina Bay featuring hundreds of brilliant lanterns
•    Blending tradition and modernity in a vibrant urban setting

Common threads and unique differences

While each country has its own practices, all share core values:
•    Gratitude toward deities protecting the family
•    Family reunions at year's end
•    Hope for a peaceful and prosperous new year
•    Preserving cultural identity amid modern life

Traditional values worth preserving

The Kitchen Gods custom is more than a spiritual ritual - it's an occasion for:
•    Family gatherings and home cleaning
•    Preparing mentally for Tet with appreciation and love
•    Preserving national cultural identity
•    Generations coming together to share and transmit traditional values

The Kitchen Gods ceremony bridges past and present, spirituality and daily life, reminding everyone of sacred values worth cherishing. This precious cultural heritage must be preserved and promoted for future generations.

May this article deepen your understanding of Vietnamese Tet customs and perhaps inspire you to experience the vibrant spring atmosphere of Vietnam firsthand.