American Thinker
March 16, 2013
On our journey along cost of the South China Sea, it’s now the first day of Tet. About a week earlier, families made their offerings to the Kitchen God asking for a good report to the Heavenly Emperor. The message is to be delivered by a giant carp which transforms itself into a dragon on the way to heaven, Almost 80% of Vietnamese practice ancestor worship and make regular offerings to their ancestors at family shrines in the middle of their homes. (On sampans and junks where space is more limited, the altar is usually in one corner of the small living quarters.) Also before the start of Tet, Vietnamese visit the graves of their ancestors to invite them to the New Year’s celebrations.