Offering to the Kitchen God – When the Elderly Are the Keepers of the Fire

In many Vietnamese families, Tet (Lunar New Year) doesn't begin on the first day of the year. Tet starts earlier, from... offering tray for the Kitchen God – a feast to bid farewell to the old year as it departs for heaven. And in many homes, the elderly are the ones who keep the fire burning for that offering.

The offering tray for the Kitchen God doesn't have to be elaborate, but it's very "appropriate".

Offering tray Kitchen God A lavish feast isn't usually necessary. What's important is doing it on the right day, at the right time, and following the proper customs. Elderly people remember this very well:

• Should the offering be made before or after noon?
• Where should I place the tray of food?
• Light a few incense sticks.
• What are you praying for?

It's not about being fussy, but about a lifetime of accumulated memories. When the elderly are healthy, they prepare everything themselves. As they become weaker, what saddens them is not the lack of offerings, but the loss of their familiar role.

Keeping the offering tray is about maintaining the feeling that "you are still needed."

For the elderly, the offering to the Kitchen God is a familiar ritual, a milestone signaling the approach of Tet (Lunar New Year), and a way for them to feel they still have responsibilities in the family. If their children and grandchildren completely take over, quickly and efficiently, the elderly may feel left out of the Tet festivities.

Proper care during this stage is not about doing everything for them, but about keeping the elderly involved, even if only by reminding them of rituals, sitting at the altar, or guiding their children and grandchildren in preparations. Maintaining these spiritual activities is crucial in the process. caring for the elderly at home.

As the elderly become frail, the offerings on the altar also become precarious.

Many families begin to notice that grandparents can't stand for long periods, their hands tremble when setting the table, or they get tired after each meal preparation. This is when the question arises, not... "Should we offer sacrifices or not?" but "How can we care for the elderly so they can still maintain their roles in society?"

SAN and its perspective on "keeping the flame alive"

With SAN, caring for the elderly isn't about taking them far away from home, but about helping them continue to live in familiar rhythms. Through our services... caring for the sick For elderly people at home, SAN helps:

• The elderly receive physical support.
• Get a rest when needed.
• Not separated from family rituals.

SAN is an alternative to nursing homes and daycare centers, ensuring that elderly people are still present at the Kitchen God's offering ceremony – as it should always be.

Each offering tray tells a story.

Some families recounted: "Just having him sit next to the offering table and reminding the children to do things correctly makes him happy all day." That is the spirit of the program. SAN – Every Tet Feast Tells a Story.

Contact information:

• 📌 Join the SAN program – Every Tet Feast Tells a Story:
• 📲 Download the SAN app – An application for caring for the elderly and sick at home.

Children rely on their fathers, the elderly rely on their parents.