According to Vietnamese cultural traditions, the first days of the new year are an occasion for descendants to invite their ancestors to reunite and celebrate Tet with the family. The votive paper burning ceremony on the 3rd day of Tet is the ritual to see off the ancestors back to the spirit world, beautifully concluding the days of Tet reunion. This is an extremely important ceremony, expressing the profound respect and gratitude of descendants towards their roots. This article will provide the most detailed and complete information about the prayer for burning votive paper on the 3rd day of Tet, as well as the steps to perform the ceremony solemnly and correctly according to customs.

What is the Votive Paper Burning Ceremony on the 3rd Day of Tet and What is its Meaning?

The votive paper burning ceremony, also known as the farewell ceremony, is a traditional ritual performed after the Lunar New Year, usually on the 3rd day. This ceremony involves burning votive paper and hell money to send to ancestors and deities, symbolizing the "provisions" for them to return to the spirit world after celebrating Tet with their descendants.

The meaning of this ceremony is very profound:

• Expressing Gratitude and Respect: It is a way for descendants to show their gratitude to their ancestors for protecting the family throughout the past year and to pray for a new year of peace and prosperity.
• Providing for the Deceased: According to spiritual beliefs, the burned votive paper will be transformed into real items and money in the afterlife, helping ancestors live a comfortable life.
• Concluding the Tet Holiday: The ceremony serves as a farewell, seeing off the ancestors, and also signals the end of the Tet holidays, as everyone prepares to return to their daily work.

What is the Best Time to Perform the Ceremony on the 3rd Day of Tet?

Customarily, the votive paper burning ceremony is held on the 3rd day of Tet. However, depending on the circumstances of each family, the ritual can be performed anytime from the 3rd to the 10th day of the first lunar month. The most important thing is the sincerity of the homeowner.

Families often choose an auspicious time of the day to perform the ritual with the hope that everything will go smoothly. Choosing a good time demonstrates thoughtfulness and solemnity when performing this important spiritual ritual. The homeowner can consult an almanac to select the best time frame suitable for their age.

What Should Be Prepared for the Offering Tray on the 3rd Day of Tet?

The offering tray for this ceremony does not need to be overly elaborate but must be complete and well-prepared, showing the heart of the descendants. A basic offering tray usually includes:

• Savory Dishes: 1 boiled chicken, sticky rice (xoi), Chung cake (or Tet cake), Vietnamese sausages (gio, cha), a bowl of soup (bamboo shoot soup or meatball soup).
• Other Offerings: A five-fruit tray, fresh flowers (usually chrysanthemums or tuberoses), betel leaves and areca nuts, cigarettes, tea, wine, soft drinks.
• Votive Paper: This is an essential part. The homeowner needs to prepare votive money, clothes, hats, shoes, and other symbolic paper items for the ancestors. Each ancestor should have a separate set. Additionally, there should be a separate set for the deities.
• Candles and incense sticks.

What is the Most Standard Prayer for the Ceremony?

Below is the most complete and solemn prayer template for the ancestor worship on the 3rd day of Tet that you can refer to:

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

I respectfully bow to the nine celestial directions, the ten directions of Buddhas, and the Buddhas of the ten directions.

I respectfully bow to the Future Maitreya Buddha.

I respectfully bow to the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth Mother, and the revered Deities.

I respectfully bow to the Tutelary Deities, the Local City God, the God of the Earth, the Kitchen Gods, and the Dragon Veins.

Today is the 3rd day of the first month of the year [Lunar Year].

Your devoted follower(s), I/we am/are: [Full Name], age: [Lunar Age].

Residing at: [Address].

Our family has sincerely prepared offerings, incense, flowers, tea, fruits, food, and votive money and paper, lighting these incense sticks with reverence before the altar.

We respectfully invite the revered Deities, the Local City God, the God of the Earth, the Kitchen Gods, the Dragon Veins, and all deities governing this land. We beseech you to have mercy on us, descend before this altar, witness our sincerity, and accept these offerings.

We respectfully invite our ancestral patriarchs and matriarchs, and all ancestral spirits (paternal and maternal) of the [Family Name] clan who have returned to our home to enjoy Tet with their descendants.

Now, as the three days of Tet have passed, our entire family performs this votive paper burning ceremony to see off the ancestral spirits back to the spirit world. We pray for our ancestors to bless our entire family with a new year of peace, prosperity, all wishes granted, and abundant fortune.

With our humble offerings and sincere hearts, we bow and ask for your protection and guidance.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

How to Perform the Votive Paper Burning Ritual Correctly?

To ensure the ritual is performed with solemnity and correctness, the homeowner should follow these steps:

1. Prepare the Offerings: Arrange all prepared offerings on the altar neatly and respectfully.
2. Light Incense and Pray: The head of the household (usually the eldest male) lights incense, bows, and recites the prayer sincerely and clearly.
3. Wait for Incense to Burn: After praying, the family waits until about two-thirds of the incense has burned before performing the farewell rite.
4. Burn Votive Paper: Take the votive paper down and burn it in a clean brazier, a dedicated metal barrel, or a clean area in the yard. When burning, burn the portion for the deities first, followed by the portion for the ancestors, starting with the highest-ranking ancestor. While burning, descendants can bow and quietly say, "We respectfully see you off..." to show their reverence.
5. Conclude the Ceremony: After all the votive paper has completely burned, the homeowner bows one last time and then brings the offering tray down for the family to share. Partaking in the ancestral offerings is believed to bring luck and health for the entire year.

What Are the Important Things to Note?

To ensure the ceremony is meaningful and respectful, homeowners should keep a few things in mind:

• When burning votive paper, choose a clean, open area, avoiding unclean places.
• Use a dedicated burning vessel or metal barrel to ensure fire safety and maintain cleanliness.
• Ensure all votive paper is burned completely. According to folk belief, if any is left unburnt, the spirits will not receive the full offerings.
• After burning, you can sprinkle a little of the offering wine onto the ashes to send the offerings off completely.
• The family should maintain a solemn, harmonious atmosphere, avoiding arguments or loud noises during the ceremony.

The votive paper burning ceremony is not just a custom but also a spiritual thread connecting generations, reflecting the beautiful national principle of "When drinking water, remember the source." Maintaining and correctly performing this ritual through the years, from the **Year of the Fire Horse 2026** to future celebrations like **Tet 2031**, is how we preserve our cultural identity and teach our children about filial piety and gratitude for their roots. We wish you a successful ceremony and a new year of peace and happiness!