In modern times, and for practicalitys sake, home altars are now set up to ease the deceaseds journey into becoming an ancestor. Home Cruises Special Tours Honeymoon Tours In a Vietnamese Catholic home, you will find altars to God and the deceased next to each other. instead of hanging a colorful background panel. Particular passions, milestone moments and legacies created weave together to tell a story that is completely unique. You should wear black like the other funeral attendees. Wearing a mourning headband is not only to show affection and respect, but it is also used to distinguish the relationship between the deceased and the wearers, who may not be very familiar. Because the celebration is so closely tied to honoring and respecting elders, while at a Dam Gio celebration, its essential to give preference in food, seating, and conversation to anyone older than you. Catholic families hold one mass, but Vietnamese Catholics offer mass for ancestral souls year-round. 2020. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service Hopefully, the above information has helped you better understand the Vietnamese funeral traditions. For information about opting out, click here. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. Rituals of a Vietnamese Funeral "Cleansing" of the Deceased's Body As soon as the family is certain their loved one is no longer alive, the "cleansing" ritual starts. During this time, families will gather together to offer prayers and offerings to the deceased. Another important aspect to remember during Dam Gio is. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. Funeral songs arent played at Buddhist ceremonies. All rights reserved. When not deep in writing, I enjoy a long walk by the beach and contemplating what to write next :D. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Depending on the familys wishes you may see some of these practices or all of them. As with all Asian funerals, honoring tradition, customs and heritage is fundamental to Vietnamese ceremonies. Instead of celebrating individual birthdays, families join together in death anniversaries. Why do Vietnamese people eat vegetarian at a funeral? Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online It's advisable to learn what to expect if you plan to attend a Vietnamese funeral. 4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival Pagoda. As soon as the family is certain their loved one is no longer alive, the cleansing ritual starts. Kelley, Liam c. Confucianism in Vietnam: A State of the Field Essay. Journal of Vietnamese Studies, Vol. Respect for elders and the deceased is of the utmost importance in Vietnamese culture, and funerals are an opportunity to show respect for the deceased. The Western trumpet band is also mainly used in the South, usually playing at Cloth Wrapping and Body Placing stages, and when moving the coffin to its final resting place, but the family can request the music to be played whenever. If the family is going to observe the 100th day or 1 . This attitude toward death may be influenced by the fact that older adults are highly respected in Vietnamese culture, and therefore, aging and death may not conjure up as many negative connotations as within Western cultures. Buddhist Death Rituals and End of Life Traditions, Buddhists believe that a person goes through a process called samsara, or reincarnation at death. The duplicate funeralis a phenomenon where a family member dies on the same day, or still in the mourning time of the person who previously died, especially in the period after 3 days or 49 days of burial. In the US, older people still prefer a traditional diet, though more meat is available than was in Vietnam. A monk typically conducts the funeral. A nice funeral flower stand is also a great choice. This tradition represents the cycle of life when the body will be returned to the earth. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that comprise the Dignity Memorial network. Facebook. Ghosts in Vietnam are known to take on many forms and do not fit into one category. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. If you're attending a Buddhist funeral, you're likely to participate in different traditions, or to at least bear witness to them. Accept, Many people celebrate the death anniversary of their ancestors because they believe that their spirits continue to wander in this world, should be taken care of, and also invited to visit. During the journey, a family member will scatter paper effigy (paper gold bars) to lead the way for the deceased. There are many unique elements that go into making up the ceremony of Dam Gio. Rice production requires complex irrigation and collective farming, which led to the development of a strong sense of community in Vietnamese villages. The beliefs, fears and rituals of people in the north of Vietnam are investigated.. forms. The family will lay the body in the coffin, then put in tea bags to prevent odor and humidity. The day when death takes place is incredibly important. During Dam Gio, its customary to prepare traditional dishes as well as the deceased family members favorite foods. Many families prefer to wear white headbands, while others choose to wear yellow ones to the funeral. The family is easily identified by their traditional white clothing. Now that youre familiar with some of the traditions youll encounter at a Vietnamese funeral, its helpful to know how to behave. According to the Vietnamese concept, death is not an end but they just move to another world, reunite with their ancestors, and then there will come a time for the living to meet those who have passed away. For the convenience of work and for daily life, nowadays mourning clothes are only worn until the burial is completed, after that, a black bandage on the sleeve or a small black piece on the chest is acceptable. All will stay close to the coffin and commemorate the deceased. Easily publish a free obituary, share funeral details, collect memories and more. Whether you are planning a traditional tribute, would like to set up an extended visitation or are looking for cemetery property with positive feng shui, we will work with you for meaningful and beauty. Depending on the way they died it will be a joyous or somber occasion. Sally is a prolific non-fiction and fiction writer, who has appeared in multiple print and digital publications. Keen to explore the world? If this guide brought up thoughts of your own funeral planning, cake can help. Monks chant and pray in the days leading to the funeral and during the ceremony. First, the body is cleaned using a towel with water infused with fragrant leaves and rice wine. These offerings include candles, incense, fruit, and other gifts. Then, nails are clipped, and the body is dressed in new clothes. At the end of the process, a rebirth occurs in the form of a god, demigod, human, animal, hungry gh, 24 Caring Things to Say to Someone Who Had a Miscarriage. Family and friends take turns keeping vigil over the body throughout the night. Silence is the decorum expectation unless the family speaks to you, and then you should speak with a low, soft tone. During the afternoon, food and offerings are arranged in front of an altar, and food is served on the table. As strange as it sounds, the family will ask a monk or a fortune teller for a good hour to bury their loved one. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. The casket is set inside a funeral car or hearse. Once the body is inside the coffin, a monk or a shaman will offer prayers, surrounded by the family. Saying something thoughtful and empathetic can show your support, but it can be a c, What to Text Someone Who Is Grieving to Comfort Them, Although you might not feel like texting is the best way to reach out to comfort someone who's grieving, sometimes it's the most appropriate way to offer your condolences. The Ceremony Music Band will usually consist of 3 to 7 people, serve during the funeral from 7am to 10pm daily, rest at night and return to work the next day morning. In general, discussion, avoid joking, negatively criticizing or discussing sensitive issues that involve the family, and being indifferent to the family's grief. They often keep their loved one at home after their death for anywhere ranging from three days to a month. Bring comfort and peace to those grieving during the holidays. Wear traditional white cloth, such as a headband or armband Walk with sticks to symbolize that grief has left them with a need for support Chant sutras (prayers) Bring offerings of flowers and fruit Burn incense to sweeten the air Guests usually wear modest, dark clothing: a tie and jacket for men; a dress or skirt for women. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online The information above is intended to provide an overview of the customs and beliefs related to Vietnamese funerals, so that anyone attending can be better prepared for what to expect. During a special occasion such as Dam Gio, the altar is decorated more meticulously with special pictures, items, and decorations brought out for the two days. The burial is another time for the family to grieve and say their last goodbye. Although you are not expected to wear formal attire to attend a Dam Gio, go for simpler clothes that are casual but look nice. There are certain etiquette guidelines to follow to avoid offending the grieving family. Depending on religious beliefs, many of the Vietnamese culture believes that souls live on after death, but especially that a person should die in their home surrounded by his family. [2] It is generally understood that certain ghosts are people who have undergone unnatural, premature, painful or violent deaths . Arriving at a funeral empty-handed is not a good gesture. In popular Vietnamese culture, the animistic folk religions were melded with, rather than supplanted by religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianis We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. With crimson pillars and golden glazed tiles, its architecture harks to ancient Chinese palaces. If you'd like some help and guidance through the process, check out our post-loss checklist. of an actual attorney. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Rose Hills is a foremost expert in Vietnamese funeral traditions. Other family members recite prayers and light incense at the start of each day. It is considered bad luck for menstruating women to light incense. Prices quoted include 10% savings and endowment care. Ancestor worship in Vietnam's been said that the Vietnamese believe in the dead, while the Occidentals believe only in death. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. The death anniversary in Vietnam is an important event that gathers all family members together to remember those who have gone on before. The ceremony is held at the house of the eldest member of the family, who is in charge of arranging the necessary elements of the ceremony. Most Vietnamese are Buddhist; other religious preferences include Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Chinese Confucianism. Close family members hold prayer services before laying the deceased in the coffin. Other families have pictures of their family members on theirVietnamese altar instead of hanging a colorful background panel. If the family is a traditional Buddhist family, it is common for them to wear white and for attendees to wear black or other dark colors. Let us share it with you in this article. Death Rituals in Vietnamese Society. December 01, 2000, www.webs01.hsl.washington.edu/clinical/end-of-life/death-in-viet, Phung, Tuyen. Family members and the person who has passed typically wear white; guests wear black or gray. Vietnamese funerals are one of the important events of the family, not only showing traditional customs and rituals but also for family members to express their regret and condolences. The funeral music band follows with bittersweet melodies then comes family and guests. Instead, youll most likely hear monks chanting throughout the funeral. You can expect to take part in lighting the funeral pyre if the family chooses cremation. advice. If you have been invited to a Dam Gio, its customary to arrive with a death anniversary gift. Twitter. Note:No matter what a family's culture and traditions are, planning or attending a funeral is hard. Christmas Card Etiquette After a Death in the Family. As with all Asian funerals, honoring tradition, customs and heritage is fundamental to Vietnamese ceremonies. For a funeral that honors your familys Vietnamese culture, customs and the wishes of your loved one, contact us. Traditionally, an oil lamp is lit and placed underneath the casket in a nurturing gesture to provide the spirit a warm resting place. form. Existence is a continuum stretching through birth, a life spent in tangible form on Earth, followed by death and a spirit existence in another realm for a further two or three generations. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, The deceased will be buried or cremated based on the family's wishes and religious preferences. Learning from other cultures can help you honor your loved ones. During this time, the worshiping ceremony (le cau sieu) - one of the most important Vietnamese funeral rituals, is held every week until the seventh week, i.e. There are customs followed depending on the familys Buddhist or Catholic preference. Vietnamese families share food with their lost loved one. Vietnamese funerals both shows love and mourning for the deceased, and helps the living move on with their lives. Although more and more people now cremate their deceased, most people still choose the traditional method of burial, especially in cemeteries for more convenience and solemnity. The family will light up incense at the altar daily and continue with three more rituals: Without etiquette, a guest may come off as insensitive at a Vietnamese funeral. Accept, Vietnamese Funeral Service Traditions & Protocol, Vietnamese Burials, Mourning, and Death Anniversaries, In this guide, well break down the history, traditions, and etiquette at Vietnamese funerals. Spirits are invited to visit a household through prayers. Vietnam is an atheist state, so you might expect a human-centered. People dont speak about death every day, but we all acknowledge the importance of this event. He then pours wine and burns incense previously placed in the altar. The family believes that the deceaseds soul comes back on this day to share in a feast and meet new family members. According to Confucius, one should always maintain respect for parents because filial piety provides the basis of ones morality and character. Some modern families choose to keep the remains in an urn and place the urn in a columbarium or a garden created just to enshrine urns. Funerals are a very important part of the Amish culture, and there are many customs and traditions that are observed. As mentioned before, death anniversaries bring generations of family members together in ancestor worship. Heres some more useful information before you attend. Facebook. The familys representative reads out loud a eulogy for the dead, followed by closing the coffin. Atop a hill, the columbarium has views of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, as well as a birds-eye view of Sycamore Valley and SkyRose Chapel. Vietnamese people believe that it is a bad misfortune to die away from home, but also bad luck if they carry a corpse home. In traditional burials of some sects, the deceased's clothing and other belongings are burned. Many religious Vietnamese families are Buddhists. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. The main Catholic traditions observed in a Vietnamese funeral include: Most funeral rites are performed in the presence of the body. This link will open in a new window. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. A mix of political and religious history has made these funerals special to witness. This is an important tradition in Vietnam that can be traced back many centuries. In some places, grandsons and granddaughters will use white headbands with red dots, while grandchildren have blue dots on theirs. Since filial responsibilities are weighed heavily in the Vietnamese culture, and proper death rituals according to one's abilities are important, death rituals give the bereaved a final chance to make it right by the deceased and thus provide a sense of continuity as well as final closure. The traditional diet is mostly rice, fish, and vegetables, plus pork or chicken when available. Beans are a food offering to the deceaseds spirit. The Dam Gio celebration is one tradition that has become an integral part of Vietnamese culture, and therefore, should be appreciated and respected. Image: SteveAndNoelle Preparing The Body Meanwhile, the H'mong ethnic people in Ho Mit Commune, Tan Uyen District, Lai Chau Province also have a depraved Vietnamese funeral custom that needed to be changed. The mourning period is determined by the family's religious practices. A Vietnamese funeral is a very important event that is rooted in traditional beliefs and customs. Staff Writers. Create a free website to honor your loved one. German death tra, The Amish are a unique people with their own distinct culture and traditions. Each has a catering kitchen, dining room and courtyard with a ceremonial burner. In Vietnamese culture, actions are important. You will see the body treated with the utmost care. The family will choose a lucky day for their loved ones funeral, so prepare to have a flexible schedule when planning to attend. Example credit transaction: A total purchase price of $ 18,000 financed at 0% with a 10% down payment would require 48 monthly payments of $303.75. Bring a gift such as white flowers. Its a symbolic act of honoring that the deceased is still with them. By clicking "Accept", you agree to our website's cookie use as described in our Cookie Policy. For the Vietnamese, death, and the ritual and practice of ancestor worship, constitutes the transfer of power from the tangible life to the intangible. , Dam Gio offers an opportunity for family members to reunite and celebrate, with many of them traveling far distances to their hometowns for the occasion. As day eases into night, the family will prepare a hearty dinner for the deceaseds altar. Ethnic groups, like the Hmong, slaughter cows to make sure the deceased travels into the afterlife. Because the Vietnamese often attach great importance to their roles, it will help visitors not have to ask more questions, especially on the day of the funeral when the family is sure to be grieving and busy. This link will open in a new window. The baby's hair and nails must never be cut during the first . Except from the depraved customs, funerals in Vietnam are a long-standing and unique culture that brings many human values to the local people. . The one day viewing usually starting in the morning or noon lasts well into the evening, generally the day before the funeral, and typically includes the ambiance of candlelight and incense. The right words can bring comfort during the holidays. However, it is considered rude and very disrespectful to smile or laugh while at the wake or funeral. , families join together in ancestor worship funeral music band follows with bittersweet melodies comes! 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With red dots, while others choose to wear yellow ones to the local people they died it will a... Important tradition in Vietnam that can be traced vietnamese death rituals many centuries monks throughout! The casket in a Vietnamese funeral, its helpful to know how to behave souls year-round you agree to website! Phung, Tuyen in lighting the funeral feast and meet new family members in! Note: no matter what a family member will scatter paper effigy ( paper bars! Clothing and other gifts, but we all acknowledge vietnamese death rituals importance of event... Pours wine and burns incense previously placed in the family will choose a lucky for... In ancestor worship and courtyard with a ceremonial burner include: most funeral rites are performed in us. December 01, 2000, www.webs01.hsl.washington.edu/clinical/end-of-life/death-in-viet, Phung, Tuyen so prepare to have a schedule... A human-centered take turns keeping vigil over the body home altars are set. Many unique elements that go into making up the ceremony nails are clipped, and food is on!, death anniversaries bring generations of family members favorite foods loud a eulogy for the family will choose lucky! Stay close to the deceaseds journey into becoming an ancestor journey into becoming an ancestor deceased the! Make sure the deceased travels into the afterlife joyous or somber occasion traditions are... Are burned us, older people still prefer a traditional diet, though more meat available. Might expect a human-centered this time, families will gather together to remember those who have on! Gio, its architecture harks to ancient Chinese palaces traditional diet, though more meat is available than in! The start of each day, and there are certain etiquette guidelines to follow to avoid offending grieving... And friends take turns keeping vigil over the body is vietnamese death rituals the coffin etiquette after a anniversary! No longer alive, the cleansing ritual starts as with all Asian funerals, honoring tradition, customs and.!