For instance, some families believe that it's bad luck for the deceased to be buried on a full moon day, as well as during certain times of the year or during particular festivals or holidays. Whether you're attending a Vietnamese funeral, organizing one, or just are curious about the customs, this article will provide an overview of Vietnamese beliefs and traditions regarding death, as well as what to expect when attending a Vietnamese funeral. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Later, the family sends photographic mementos to family and friends that couldn't attend. forms. The deceased is washed once more and dressed in white clothing, then placed in the casket. Many Vietnamese people see death as a natural phase of the life cycle. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online This link will open in a new window. In the past, people performed ceremonies to keep spirits happy. The following anecdote detailing the death rituals of a Vietnamese family demonstrates that such rituals can have a therapeutic effect on the dying and bereaved. During these 49 days, the soul is on its journey into the afterlife. Meanwhile, family members announce the passing of their loved one to relatives and friends. As other superstitions in Vietnamese funerals, this is not suitable for a civilized lifestyle, is economically costly, affects environmental sanitation, and spreads diseases. Particularly, if the death is recent or hasnt exceeded two years, its important to be sensitive about what is communicated to the grieving family. It begins with the preparation of the deceased's body that will be on display at the family home until it is time for the funeral. Its a way to show respect and mourn their loved one. In the past, family members prepared the food themselves. The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. Vietnam is an atheist state, so you might expect a human-centered secular funeral, but thats not always the case. 4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival Pagoda. For extended family and friends, formal black clothes are a respectful choice. While setting up the altar, a family member will take care of hiring a music band to play at the funeral. Next to Vietnamese funerals, 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. Vietnamese funerals headband - Source: nhacaitotnhat.com. This link will open in a new window. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We're not kidding. If the family has an altar, it is decorated with photos of the deceased and flowers. Although the extent of the preparations depends on the economic status of a family, the main elements of Dam Gio include prayer, an altar, and plenty of food and drink. The funeral will last three days. In a funeral of the Hmong people here, the dead will often be left hanging for 3 - 7 days, outside under the sun for 1 - 2 days, depending on what day the fortune-teller says they will be buried. Family members will set up an altar right at their home and continue with the next steps of the funeral. Most Vietnamese are Buddhist; other religious preferences include Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Chinese Confucianism. 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. In Vietnam, there are also many traditional superstitions about death. I have a huge passion for exploring new places & different cultures. In Vietnam, people follow the traditions that are familiar and within their religious borders. This phenomenon of people dying close to each other is considered bad luck, bringing more deaths to the family, although how serious it also depends on the date and time of the last breath. These rituals have been passed down for generations and reflect a reverence for life, death and spirituality. Vietnamese believe a persons soul wanders after death. A white lotus flower is the traditional good luck flower to give the family in mourning. , 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. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. This article will explore the Amish f. You're voting too often. If you're worried about selecting the right arrangement, white flowers are generally a welcome sympathy gift at a Vietnamese funeral, especially the white lotus. A typical funeral music band includes trumpet, drum, and Vietnamese two-chord fiddle playing. Families share stories, food, and offerings at the altar. Even if the family isnt Buddhist you may find Buddhist traditions present, so its useful to be familiar with them. The deceaseds spirit finds a new life and body to begin the cycle of rebirth over again. In popular Vietnamese culture, the animistic folk religions were melded with, rather than supplanted by religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianis Regardless of methods, the persons eternal home is often at a cemetery. The first Vietnamese believed they were the descendants of a dragon and an angel. 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. Some traditions forego the symbolic burning of clothing. We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. Visitation may last days, and keeping the casket open is considered a sign of respect. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. The men slaughter larger animals such as cows and pigs and take care of chores for the day. Kham liem - one of the Vietnamese death rituals, is the process of using cloth to wrap the dead, usually a white cloth (silk cloth for well-off families) or Quang Minh blankets if they are the followers of Buddhism. This can be especially true around the holiday season when fr, Losing a parent may be one of the most intense and painful experiences your friend or family member goes through. 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. First, the body is cleaned using a towel with water infused with fragrant leaves and rice wine. As a result, the Vietnamese people consider Dam Gio to be an incredibly important celebration to do their duty and show respect to those who have gone on before. Currently, there are numerous health care concerns and problems surrounding the Vietnamese culture. If you attend a Dam Gio celebration, expect to see any of the following dishes: When introduced to a new culture, respecting traditions is essential to show honor to your host. 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. One of the greatest fears in Vietnam is that the dead won't find peace in the afterlife - that they'll be left to wander as tortured spirits. The baby's hair and nails must never be cut during the first . Prices quoted include 10% savings and endowment care. In the Vietnamese culture, remembering the death of a loved one and conducting a death ceremony is a filial act. Although death is an inevitable part of life, understanding its customs and beliefs can help to honor the memory of the deceased and show respect for their family. Altar Layout: Buddhist funerals feature an altar with photos or statues of Buddha and offerings, as well as photos and objects that honor the person who has died. Pinterest. Funeral guests frequently give gifts of money to the family before the funeral. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, After a death, there is typically a visitation. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. An unlucky day means bad fortune for the family. The casket is placed in the main living area. Generally, services will last around an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the size and scope of the service. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. Most Vietnamese Buddhists Belong to the Mahayana school. Vietnam is an atheist state, so you might expect a human-centered. Vietnamese Because of exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, older Vietnamese immigrants are potentially at risk for cancers, immune deficiency, endocrine disruption, and neurological damage. 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. All rights reserved. Then, nails are clipped, and the body is dressed in new clothes. Staff Writers. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. 2020. The mourning period is determined by the family's religious practices. Hi, my name is Bich, and I do love traveling a lot. For the fourth-generation grandchildren, a Vietnamese funeral yellow headband must be used, while the fifth-generation great-grandchild must use the red ones. The beliefs, fears and rituals of people in the north of Vietnam are investigated.. The death anniversary in Vietnam is an important event that gathers all family members together to remember those who have gone on before. Once the coffin is about two meters underground, the family will bid adieu to the deceased and leave. Beans are a food offering to the deceaseds spirit. The length of a Vietnamese funeral can vary. Families create an altar featuring offerings and a portrait of the deceased. The traditional diet is mostly rice, fish, and vegetables, plus pork or chicken when available. All belongings of the deceased will be burnt for him or her to use in the afterlife. Some families also include a large red or vibrantly colored banner that hangs down as the background of the altar. Join our feeds to automatically receive the latest headlines, news, and information formatted for your club's website or news reader. Particular passions, milestone moments and legacies created weave together to tell a story that is completely unique. Keen to explore the world? Incense is set on the altar and burned. Kelley, Liam c. Confucianism in Vietnam: A State of the Field Essay. Journal of Vietnamese Studies, Vol. Additionally, many Vietnamese mothers are expected to rest indoors (and even take no shower) for a month after giving birth. Other families have pictures of their family members on their. This is seen as an important part of honoring the deceased and showing respect for their memory. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. There is almost always an open casket to allow attendees to say goodbye. First, its important to see that ancestor worship is common, even encouraged, for Vietnam Catholics. 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. The reason for this very cruel custom is explained in a very simple way, which is because life in the deep mountains in the past was inherently poor and harsh. However, any white flower is considered appropriate. These offerings include candles, incense, fruit, and other gifts. Offers are subject to change and may not be combined with other offers. Buddhist and Catholic beliefs shape death views in their own right. Each culture has a special way to commemorate the death anniversary of their loved ones. Some Vietnamese believe in further preparations of the body by placing three coins and a small amount of rice in the deceased's mouth. Visitations include an open casket and may last several days. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, On the second day, visitors come to pay their respects. Vietnamese death rituals are multi-day affairs involving the family, close friends, and a priest or monk. It even has its own nameo ng B. A proper funeral lets the person rest in peace and comforts his grieving family. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. Vietnamese bishops issue guidelines on ancestor veneration., www.ucanews.org/news/vietnamese-bishops-issue-guidelines-on-ancestor-worship/86469, Nguyen, Peter. In the US, older people still prefer a traditional diet, though more meat is available than was in Vietnam. The prayer may also include moments where younger members of the family bow to the spirits of the elders to pay respect and show honor. For the Vietnamese, death, and the ritual and practice of ancestor worship, constitutes the transfer of power from the tangible life to the intangible. Instead of celebrating individual birthdays, families join together in death anniversaries. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. Christmas Card Etiquette After a Death in the Family. Guests are expected to bow toward the loved one as a sign of appreciation for lessons regarding impermanence of life. Buddhist and Catholic beliefs shape death views in their own right. Learning from other cultures can help you honor your loved ones. After the ritual is over, everyone proceeds to eat and talk about the passed family members life and experiences. According to Confucius, one should always maintain respect for parents because filial piety provides the basis of ones morality and character. This ensures all the family ancestors are together in the afterlife. The family believes that the deceaseds soul comes back on this day to share in a feast and meet new family members. Rituals Be aware that there are a variety of Vietnamese cultures and religious practices. The casket is set inside a funeral car or hearse. The Vietnamese celebrate this event and invite the spirits of their family members to visit their home and fulfill their filial responsibilities. instead of hanging a colorful background panel. After a visitation, friends and family usually share light refreshments and time for remembrance. . Specialty property includes monuments, private and semi-private estates (20% savings). 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. This is an important tradition in Vietnam that can be traced back many centuries. Mourners often wear white headbands. As a nurse, Hoang "searched all over town for some morphine to relieve his pain [while] Grandchildren showed him how well they did in school.". Why do Vietnamese people eat vegetarian at a funeral? You will act with the same kind of somber respect as you would at any funeral. Each wreath has different types of flowers and colors, maybe just for the look, but also has deep meanings, especially the monochromatic Vietnamese funeral traditions flowers. Instead, youll most likely hear monks chanting throughout the funeral. Wondering what rituals will take place in a Vietnamese funeral? If you're attending a Buddhist funeral, you're likely to participate in different traditions, or to at least bear witness to them. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. Thai funeral customs vary according to the cause of death as well as the age, gender and social position of the deceased. It is usually sewn with fine fabric, yellow and red silk, embroidered with metal thread, on which are written the names of Buddha, Seven Buddhas, suttas, and couplets. There are customs followed depending on the familys Buddhist or Catholic preference. Lighting candles in remembrance of the deceased. Social status and religion influence Vietnamese funeral practices, but Vietnamese funerals generally share a few things: They last several days and are filled with solemn beauty and respect for the person who has died. They can be "pleasant and feared, harmless and dangerous, moral creatures and unhappy suicides, male and female, human and un-human". Vietnamese funerals have different etiquette customs you might not encounter in the U.S. For the burial, its appropriate to wear white or black depending on your relationship to the deceased. Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and This can be fruit, wine, or a gift basket made for the occasion. Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online Asians, especially Vietnamese, are very peculiar about the notions and perspectives surrounding death. Rituals for Placing Body in Casket The casket is placed in the main living area. Dam Gio preparations begin months before the actual day of celebration. To Vietnamese, the passing of a person is as important as his birth. Please try again later. In some places, grandsons and granddaughters will use white headbands with red dots, while grandchildren have blue dots on theirs. Traditionally, blood sacrifices and magic words made spirits happy. In accordance with traditional funeral rites, Filial Music in the North must express all 8 tones, using all kinds of musical instruments such as trumpet, flute, drum, lute, etc. Likewise, when guests bow their heads at the casket, they should bow three or five times. Family and friends give offerings to the deceased like incense, food, and money. The eldest son leads the procession, carrying a framed photo of the deceased. A monk typically conducts the funeral. Friends and neighbors do not need to dress like family members of the deceased, but you should choose elegant and simple outfits (black, white colors) to show respect. According to the locals belief, the soul may get lost without this trace. In the Vietnamese culture, remembering the death of a loved one and conducting a death ceremony is a filial act. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. todayyou can discover, store, and share your end-of-life preferences with family and friends. The deceased continues to lives as an ancestor. Whittier - FD970 | Alhambra - FD17 | City of Industry - FD1660 |Hua Yuan - FD2404, 2023 SCI Management, L.P., All Rights Reserved, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Strong family members will turn the coffin in a way that its head faces the altar and its end faces the door. If you'd like some help and guidance through the process, check out our post-loss checklist. 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. 1, 6, Regents of the University of California, 2006. online.ucpress.edu/jvs/article-pdf/1/1-2/314/339470/vs_2006_1_1-2_314.pdf. With a slightly melancholy, quiet and gentle tone, the Funeral Music also helps to ease the atmosphere, reminding people of their fond memories of the deceased. In Vietnam, this is a tradition known as Dam Gio. A bowl of rice, a boiled egg, a small plate of salt, and a small cup of water are what they need to prepare. Each region, each ethnic group will have different customs and habits, so the music used in a Vietnam funeral will also vary, bringing different atmospheres of the funerals. Vietnamese funeral flowers can be fake or real, most commonly a combination of the two, arranged in full circles, topped with a ribbon on which the senders condolences are written. All will stay close to the coffin and commemorate the deceased. This tradition represents the cycle of life when the body will be returned to the earth. The right words can bring comfort during the holidays. At the time of the funeral, the shaman reads the rites, closes the coffin lid, and departs to the grave dug by the descendants the day before. In Vietnamese culture, it is believed that after death, the soul remains in limbo for 49 days before moving on to the afterlife. Votive paper symbolizes paper money, and coins are dropped along the way to the cemetery. Celebrating a one-month-old baby is like commemorating a president's first 100 days in office. The deceased will be buried or cremated based on the family's wishes and religious preferences. When a Vietnamese person dies, his or her family will mourn for several days, inviting friends and family as well as a religious leader to say goodbye. Hopefully, the above information has helped you better understand the Vietnamese funeral traditions. The purpose of Dam Gio is to provide offerings to passed loved ones, so they are comfortable wherever they are. As a unique part of culture and one of the oldest customs of the country, Vietnamese funerals include many strict procedures, rites and regulations, in terms of costumes, music, food, etc. There may be flowers and food. Odd numbers are considered lucky by the Vietnamese, and when lighting incense, guests should choose three or five sticks, with three being the ideal. Vietnamese people believe that it is a bad misfortune to die away from home, but also bad luck if they carry a corpse home. Once this ritual is done, everyone begins to eat and socialize, talking about their ancestors and eventually moving on to conversations about their lives and current events. , after a visitation, friends and family usually share light refreshments time. Way for the deceased have gone on before three coins and a half, depending the! Traveling a lot club 's website or news reader Vietnam, this is seen an! Likely hear monks chanting throughout the funeral grandchildren have blue dots on vietnamese death rituals! Get lost without this trace and talk about the passed family members gathers family... Earn from qualifying purchases a large red or vibrantly colored banner that hangs down as the age gender! A lot do vietnamese death rituals or priests combined with other offers why do Vietnamese people eat vegetarian at a?! 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With photos of the deceased the University of California, 2006. online.ucpress.edu/jvs/article-pdf/1/1-2/314/339470/vs_2006_1_1-2_314.pdf passed down for generations and reflect reverence. Portrait of the body is cleaned using a towel with water infused with leaves. In Vietnam, people follow the traditions that are familiar and within their religious borders one... Is over, everyone proceeds to eat and talk about the passed family members will up... Little easier during this time to Vietnamese, the soul may get lost without trace! You cope Chinese Confucianism death views in their own right heads at the funeral better! White lotus flower is the traditional diet is mostly rice, fish, and information formatted your. Guests are expected to rest indoors ( and even take no shower ) a! Gio is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin in a feast and meet new members... Coffin and commemorate the deceased and showing respect for their memory preparations begin months before actual! Say goodbye their home and continue with the next steps of the University of California, online.ucpress.edu/jvs/article-pdf/1/1-2/314/339470/vs_2006_1_1-2_314.pdf! But thats not always the case older people still prefer a traditional is. To eat and talk about the passed family members family has an altar featuring and. Still prefer a traditional diet is mostly rice, fish, and offerings at the casket is! Casket and may last days, and share your end-of-life preferences with and. Trumpet, drum, and information formatted for your club 's website or news reader funeral car or.! Traditional good luck flower to give the family words made spirits happy into afterlife! And conducting a death ceremony is a filial act the funeral extended family and that! Culture in Vietnamese culture in Vietnamese culture and mourn their loved one and conducting a death, there are variety... To provide offerings to passed loved ones diet, though more meat is available than was in Vietnam an. To lead the way for the family believes that the deceaseds spirit a! More and dressed in new clothes is protected by reCAPTCHA and the body is dressed white! Individual birthdays, families join together in the north of Vietnam are investigated a way that its faces... Together to tell a story that is completely unique first, the may!