Tet Nguyen Dan, the most sacred moment of the year for the Vietnamese people, is a time for family reunions, hopes for a peaceful new year, and a profound spiritual connection between generations. In this solemn atmosphere, the ritual of worshipping ancestors and deities is not just a custom, but an expression of reverence and the moral principle of "When drinking water, remember the source." At the heart of this ceremony are the ceremonial prayers (văn khấn) – invocations refined through many generations. However, in the hustle and bustle of modern life, many people, especially the younger generation, feel confused and lack confidence when performing this important ritual. This gives rise to a practical question: Should you hire someone to write Tet prayers?

What is the importance of Tet prayers?

Before delving into the analysis, we need to understand the core value of a ceremonial prayer. It is not merely a text to be read for formality's sake. A Tet prayer is a spiritual bridge, carrying deep meanings:

• A Petition and Report: It is the host's respectful report to the deities, the land guardian, and ancestors about the past year—what has been accomplished and what remains unfinished. It is also a petition for the divinities to bless the family with a new year of peace, luck, and prosperity.
• An Expression of Sincere Respect: The language in prayers is often formal, using many classical Sino-Vietnamese words, showing the absolute respect of descendants for their ancestors and the deities. The careful preparation of the prayer itself is a part of this sincerity.
• Preserving Family and Cultural Traditions: Reading prayers during Tet holidays is a way for elders to teach younger generations about their roots and the beautiful traditional values of the nation. It reminds each person of their responsibility to their family and ancestors.

Each prayer, from the New Year's Eve offering, the first day of the year, to the burning of votive paper, has its own specific structure and content, appropriate for each ritual. The formality and precision in every word, therefore, become extremely important.

Why did the service of writing Tet prayers emerge?

The emergence of this service is a natural response to the changes in modern society. The main reasons include:

• Erosion of Traditional Knowledge: Urbanization means many families no longer live in multi-generational households. The younger generation has fewer opportunities to be meticulously taught by their grandparents and parents about the rituals. Knowledge of prayers, traditionally passed down orally, has become unfamiliar.
• Time Constraints: The hectic work schedule at the end of the year leaves many people without enough time to research and prepare a proper prayer. They need a solution that is quick and convenient yet still ensures solemnity.
• Desire for Perfection and Personalization: Instead of using generic prayers found online, many people want a prayer that is "tailor-made" for their family. It would include full information about the names and birth dates of family members, and specific wishes for careers, studies, health, etc. This makes the prayer feel more private and sacred.
• Psychological Assurance: The fear of misreading, omitting details, or using inappropriate language that could affect the sanctity of the ritual leads many to seek experts. Having a prayer written by a knowledgeable person gives them confidence and peace of mind when performing the ceremony.

What are the advantages of hiring a prayer writer?

Undeniably, using this service offers many practical benefits:

• Accuracy and Professionalism: Prayers drafted by individuals with knowledge of culture and classical script will ensure correct structure, rules, and appropriate language, avoiding unnecessary mistakes.
• Saving Time and Effort: This is the most obvious benefit. The host only needs to provide information, and the rest is taken care of, giving them more time to prepare for other Tet activities.
• Deeply Personalized Content: A professional prayer not only includes the host's name but also skillfully weaves in the family's private wishes, creating a unique and emotionally rich text.
• Indirectly Contributing to Cultural Preservation: In a way, this service helps prevent the prayer ritual from being forgotten. It becomes a tool for those who are not knowledgeable to still practice the tradition with dignity.

What are the risks and disadvantages of hiring a prayer writer?

Besides the advantages, the commercialization of a spiritual value also poses several issues worth considering:

• Loss of Natural Sincerity: The core of worship is "a humble gift with a sincere heart." A prayer, no matter how eloquent, loses much of its meaning if read mechanically and not from the host's own heart and feelings. Sincerity cannot be "hired."
• Risk of Scams: Every market has its good and bad actors. A host might encounter unqualified writers who simply copy and paste from existing templates and charge high fees.
• Creating Dependency and Laziness: Over-reliance on services can lead to a gradual loss of effort in learning about our own culture. Tradition will truly fade if future generations can no longer practice it themselves.
• Cost: A well-crafted, highly personalized prayer often comes at a significant cost, which can become an unnecessary burden among the many expenses of Tet.

How can you prepare a meaningful Tet prayer yourself?

If you want to connect with your ancestors in the most sincere way, drafting your own prayer is an invaluable experience. Don't worry about its complexity; start with these simple steps:

• Research Standard Templates: Refer to traditional prayer templates from reputable sources like books on folklore or websites of cultural research institutes. This provides a standard framework to build upon.
• Understand the Basic Structure: A prayer typically includes: The date of the ceremony; The host's name and address; An invitation to deities and ancestors; A list of offerings (to show sincerity); An apology (if any); The main prayers and wishes; A pledge from the descendants; and finally, words of thanks.
• Add a Personal Touch: This is the most crucial step. Once you have the framework, use your own words to express yourself. Write about your family's past year, your gratitude to your ancestors, and specific wishes for each member. The language might not be as polished as a professional's, but it contains authenticity. Whether preparing for the Year of the Fire Horse 2026 or any other year, a sincere heart is always the core.
• Consult with Elders: Don't hesitate to ask your grandparents or parents. This is not only a way to get the prayer right but also a wonderful opportunity for different generations in the family to share, connect, and preserve cultural beauty.

So, in the end, should you hire a prayer writer or not?

The answer is not a simple YES or NO, but rather what is APPROPRIATE for each family's circumstances and beliefs. This is a personal decision.

You should consider hiring if:

• You genuinely lack the time and knowledge but still want a formal and complete ceremony.
• Your family has particularly complex rituals that you are not familiar with.
• You see it as a way to obtain a well-crafted cultural "masterpiece" to preserve and pass down.

You should write it yourself if:

• You want the ceremony to be deeply personal and reflect your genuine emotions.
• You view the process of researching and drafting the prayer as a way to learn and connect more deeply with your cultural roots.
• You believe that a sincere heart is more important than any eloquent words.

Whichever path you choose for the holidays, from now until Tet 2039, remember that a reverent heart is the most precious offering to your ancestors. A good prayer is not defined by its length or complexity, but by the sincerity of the person reading it. Wishing you and your family a warm, complete, and meaningful Tet!