VietNamNet Bridge – Song Ho village in Bac Ninh Province is not only known as the home of Dong Ho folk paintings, but it is also the largest votive-paper producing village in Vietnam.

For over a month before lunar New Year, this “enterprise” has been running at its highest capacity to produce enough votive paper products for the Day of the Kitchen God, which will fall on February 11.

With the thought that the hereafter is similar to the land of the living, Song Ho village produces all kinds of paper goods for the dead.

The prices for votive paper products from Song Ho Village are one-third cheaper than market prices.

The village produces not only traditional items but also luxury goods for the dead, such as LV bags, Gucci shoes, Apple laptops, and Maybach cars.

Mr. Thao, from Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh, said: “I have bought votive money to burn for my ancestors, a set of hats and shoes, red carps and a super-deluxe car for the Kitchen God so they can return to the Heaven quickly.”

At Song Ha village, the price for a deluxe car is from VND80,000 to VND300,000 ($4-15) but at votive paper shops in Hanoi the prices are up to VND1 million ($50).

According to ancient books, burning votive paper products during traditional holidays is the way to create sympathy between the living and the dead and to show respect and filial piety for the deceased. But today, the overuse of this custom has led to waste and pollution, and has fallen into superstition.

The Kitchen God is the most important of a plethora of domestic gods that protect the hearth and family. It is believed that on the twenty third day of the twelfth lunar month, just before the lunar New Year he returns to Heaven to report the activities of every household over the past year to the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor, emperor of the heavens, either rewards or punishes a family based on the Kitchen God's yearly report.

NDT