Giao Thua (Lunar New Year's Eve) is the most sacred and important moment in the entire Tet holiday for the Vietnamese people. It is the time when heaven and earth harmonize, bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming a new one with hopes for luck, peace, and prosperity. One of the key factors for a meaningful Giao Thua ceremony is choosing the right time to perform the worship. This article will serve as a detailed guide to help you find the best auspicious hours to conduct the New Year's Eve ceremony for the Year of the Fire Horse, 2026, while also providing complete information on offerings and the most standard prayer text.

What is Giao Thua and what is its significance?

Giao Thua, also known as the "Tru Tich" ceremony, is the moment of transition from the last hour of the old year to the first hour of the new year (from the Hour of the Pig on the 30th day of the last lunar month to the Hour of the Rat on the 1st day of the first lunar month). According to folk beliefs, this is when the old Ruling Deities hand over their duties to the new Ruling Deities, who will govern the mortal world in the coming year. Therefore, families typically prepare two offering trays: one for indoor worship dedicated to ancestors and one for outdoor worship to bid farewell to the old deities and welcome the new ones.

The significance of the Giao Thua ceremony is profound:

• Expressing Reverence: It is an occasion for descendants to express their gratitude to heaven, earth, and the deities who have protected and blessed the family throughout the past year.
• Praying for Blessings: To pray for a new year of favorable weather, national peace, family prosperity, and all wishes coming true.
• Washing Away the Old, Welcoming the New: The Giao Thua ceremony also symbolizes casting off all misfortunes and sorrows of the old year to welcome good things and luck in the new year.
• Family Bonding: It is a moment of reunion, when all family members stand together before the ancestral altar, praying sincerely, creating a warm and sacred atmosphere.

What is the zodiac animal and element of 2026?

The year 2026 in the Lunar calendar is the Year of the Binh Ngo, or the Year of the Horse. Specifically, those born in this year belong to the Year of the Fire Horse 2026, with the elemental sign of Thien Ha Thuy (Celestial River Water). This Water element signifies the cool, vast waters of the universe, capable of nourishing all things. People with the Thien Ha Thuy element are often intelligent and benevolent, but can sometimes have an unpredictable nature, like the sun and rain in the sky. Understanding the characteristics of the year helps us prepare our mindset and plans for a more prosperous new year.

Why is it necessary to choose an auspicious time for the New Year's Eve ceremony?

According to the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, as well as Feng Shui principles, the universe operates according to specific energy flows (qi). At special moments like Giao Thua, this energy flow undergoes its most powerful transformation. Choosing the right "hoang dao" time—the time frames with the most prosperous energy—to conduct the ceremony is like opening our spiritual door at the very moment the benevolent energy rushes in. Performing the Giao Thua worship at an auspicious time helps the homeowner's prayers be more easily witnessed and blessed by the deities, bringing the best effects for the entire year, thereby attracting wealth, health, and luck.

What are the most auspicious hours for the 2026 New Year's Eve ceremony?

On the New Year's Eve of the Binh Ngo year 2026 (the night of February 16th leading into the morning of February 17th, 2026, in the Gregorian calendar), the following golden hours are recommended for homeowners to perform the ceremony:

• Hour of the Rat (Canh Ty, 23:00 – 01:00): This is the Great Auspicious hour, considered the most perfect and sacred moment. The Hour of the Rat marks the beginning of a new day and a new year. Performing the ceremony at this time signifies "opening the door to welcome blessings," ushering in a new year with a smooth and favorable start. The energy of this hour is at its purest and most powerful, helping all prayers for peace, health, and family harmony to be witnessed.
• Hour of the Ox (Tan Suu, 01:00 – 03:00): This is the Hour of Swift Joy, bringing happiness and good news. The Hour of the Ox is a quiet, serene period, very suitable for sincere prayers from the depths of the heart. Worshiping at this time is particularly good for praying for wealth, business success, and for those awaiting good news in their careers or joyous family events. The energy of Swift Joy will help desires quickly become reality.
• Hour of the Tiger (Nham Dan, 03:00 – 05:00): This is the Hour of Minor Fortune, bringing luck and stability. Although not the absolute peak of sacredness like the Hour of the Rat, the Hour of the Tiger is still a very good auspicious time. It symbolizes a powerful rise and growth, like a tiger. Worshiping at this hour will help pray for a stable family, steady work, academic progress for children, and robust health to overcome all difficulties and challenges in the new year.

What offerings should be prepared for the 2026 New Year's Eve ceremony?

The homeowner needs to prepare two sets of offerings. The outdoor offering tray is simpler, while the indoor one (for ancestors) can be more elaborate and abundant depending on the family's means.

1. Outdoor Offering Tray (for Heaven, Earth, and Deities):

• A whole boiled rooster (a young one with yellow feet, a prominent comb, holding a rose in its beak).
• Banh chung (or banh tet), sticky rice with gac fruit.
• A five-fruit tray (representing the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth).
• Incense, fresh flowers (chrysanthemums, gladioli).
• Lamps or candles.
• Betel leaves and areca nuts, wine, tea, pure water.
• Votive paper, including hats and robes for the deities.

2. Indoor Offering Tray (for Ancestors):

• A savory or vegetarian feast depending on family customs, often including typical Tet dishes like bamboo shoot soup, fried spring rolls, boiled chicken, pork sausage, etc.
• Banh chung, sticky rice with gac fruit.
• A five-fruit tray, fresh flowers.
• Tea, wine.
• Votive paper and clothing for ancestors.

What is the standard prayer for the 2026 Binh Ngo New Year's Eve?

Below is a sample outdoor prayer for Giao Thua for your reference. The homeowner should recite it with a solemn and sincere tone.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

We respectfully bow to:

- The Future Buddha, Maitreya.

- The Emperor of Heaven, the Empress of Earth, and all revered Deities.

- The Outgoing Ruling Deity... (name of the old year's deity), and his divine soldiers.

- The Incoming Ruling Deity... (name of the new year's deity for Binh Ngo), and his divine soldiers.

Today is the 30th day of the last month of the At Ty year, about to enter the new Binh Ngo year.

Your devotee, [Full Name], born in the year ..., residing at: [Address].

As the moment of Giao Thua arrives, the old year passes, and we welcome the new year, a time of renewal and transformation. We, your devotees, with a sincere heart, have prepared offerings of betel leaves, areca nuts, incense, flowers, tea, and fruits, and light this incense as a testament to our faith.

We respectfully bid farewell to the Outgoing Ruling Deity and sincerely invite the Incoming Ruling Deity and all revered Deities to descend and bear witness.

We humbly ask for your blessings and protection for us and our entire family, for a new year of Binh Ngo filled with health and prosperity, all wishes fulfilled, a thriving household, free from misfortune through the four seasons, and enjoying peace in all eight periods of the year.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

What should be noted during the Giao Thua ceremony for a lucky year?

To ensure the Giao Thua ceremony is complete and brings much good fortune, the homeowner should pay attention to the following:

• Cleanliness: The altar and worship space must be cleaned and tidy before the ceremony begins.
• Formal Attire: The whole family should wear clean, formal clothes during the ceremony to show respect.
• Maintain a Pure Mind: When worshiping, the homeowner must maintain a sincere heart, free from distracting thoughts, focusing on the prayers.
• Avoid Arguments and Loud Noises: Absolutely no arguing, speaking unlucky words, or breaking things during this sacred moment.
• Thorough Preparation: Offerings should be fully prepared in advance to avoid rushing or omissions at the last minute. Preparing for a fulfilling Tet 2026 is also a way to show sincerity.

The Giao Thua ceremony is a beautiful spiritual and cultural tradition filled with profound human values. Careful preparation and performing the ritual at the right auspicious time will help your family have a fulfilling start to the Binh Ngo New Year 2026, full of positive energy, promising a peaceful and successful year ahead. Wishing our readers and their families a New Year where all wishes come true!