TRUYỆN CỔ TÍCH VIỆT NAM SỰ TÍCH ÔNG TÁO VỀ TRỜI Bật Lên Để Ngủ

Every Lunar New Year as homes across the country begin cleaning kitchens and preparing for the festive season When the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner table is set out neatly and beautifully We Vietnamese once again recall the familiar tradition of seeing off Mr Cong and Mr Tao as they ascend to heaven According to folk belief on this day the Kitchen Gods will ride carp up to heaven Reporting to the Jade Emperor on the livelihood and daily affairs of each family over the past year and conveying heartfelt wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year But why the 23rd day of the lunar year And why do the Kitchen Gods return to heaven precisely on that day The following story will help you understand the origin of this custom more clearly Long long ago there was a poor couple who had lived together for many years without having any children Their life marked by hardship often filled them with sorrow One day overcome by anger and unable to control himself the husband struck his wife Too old to endure the pain the wife silently left the house walking away in tears After living in the village for a while the wife met a kind-hearted man from the upriver region who worked as a hunter They leaned on each other and eventually became husband and wife Though their life wasn't wealthy it was calmer and warmer than before The former husband after his rage subsided felt deep regret He decided to set out in search of his wife but no matter how long he looked he couldn't find her Money ran out and illness set in Eventually he was forced to beg for food just to survive One day shivering from cold and hunger he came begging for food in front of a house To his astonishment it was his ex-wife's home Seeing her former husband in such a gaunt ragged state the wife was filled with deep compassion When her husband was just out of town she cooked a simple meal and poured a bowl of wine for her ex-husband to ease his hunger She didn't eat much and her former husband utterly exhausted fell asleep at once Suddenly she heard thunder signaling rain and worry surged—her new husband was about to arrive The determined wife carried her former husband out to the backyard pile of firewood covering him with straw to conceal him and avoid scandalous rumors Not long after the new husband brought home a civet telling his wife to go to the market to buy seasonings for a feast to entertain the neighbors At home he lit a pile of dry grass to roast the pig Suddenly the fire flared up and spread to the entire pile of dry grass When the wife returned she was met with a blazing red fire—her ex-husband was gone So agonizing and full of regret she believed she had committed a grave sin and immediately threw herself into the flames to die Upon seeing his wife's death the husband was overwhelmed with grief and threw himself into the flames dying as well That embrace occurred on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month High above the Jade Emperor gazed down upon the mortal realm Moved by the profound bond among the three individuals the deity transformed them into three kitchen gods also known as the Three Masters of the Hearth To be together forever they were appointed as the Kitchen Gods From then on every year on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month The Kitchen God rides the carp back up to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor on the family's business affairs and daily life down on earth And thus began the custom of holding a farewell ceremony for Lord Táo as he ascends to heaven Dear friends the legend of Lord Táo's journey back to heave Not only does it help us understand the origins of a Lunar New Year tradition but it also conveys profound lessons about human bonds and compassion The story reminds each of us to be more patient when angry and to cherish those around us and live in a way that fulfills duty and preserves heartfelt sincerity Our ancestors always taught us to care for others as we would care for ourselves to shelter the broken leaf with the whole one And every Lunar New Year when the warm hearth glows red again when family gathers closely in the countryside that is precisely when love is kept warm the longest The story ends here Wishing you all a peaceful warm and love -filled Lunar New Year