Asians, especially Vietnamese, are very peculiar about the notions and perspectives surrounding death. During these 49 days, the soul is on its journey into the afterlife. Catholic funeral customs, like a mass and wake, are interwoven with Buddhist protocols to create a unique funeral experience. Families share stories, food, and offerings at the altar. According to Vietnamese funeral traditions, when the person is out of breath, a chopstick is placed across the jaw to prevent teeth from grinding together and some rice, and three coins (or gold) are put in so that the dead person does not turn into a hungry ghost. You should wear black like the other funeral attendees. If you have an extended stay with the family, you will see them giving food offerings at the home altar before each meal. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. White mourning wreaths often use chrysanthemums, roses, lilies, to express the purity, modesty, and sophistication of the deceased in the eyes of the sender, as well as their mourning. There is a mass on the 7th, 49th, and 100th day after death. Funeral songs arent played at Buddhist ceremonies. The family is easily identified by their traditional white clothing. Since then, the religion and philosophy has prevailed in many aspects of society. Do you still have questions about attending a Vietnamese funeral? A nice funeral flower stand is also a great choice. Vietnamese people believe that it is a bad misfortune to die away from home, but also bad luck if they carry a corpse home. He then pours wine and burns incense previously placed in the altar. Wondering what rituals will take place in a Vietnamese funeral? Funerals are a time for close and extended family and friends to come together to assist their loved one into the afterlife. Image: SteveAndNoelle Preparing The Body Some families also include a large red or vibrantly colored banner that hangs down as the background of the altar. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, Join our feeds to automatically receive the latest headlines, news, and information formatted for your club's website or news reader. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 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. 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. Please enter email to get furtherinformation for your travel plan, Besides nature's beauty, historical relics,.. Vietnamese souvenirs especially handcrafted gifts with unique and catchy processes, also attract tourists a lot. To make sure the soul finds its coffin, the monk or the shaman will wave the deceaseds shirt towards four directions while saying out loud ba hn by va (for male) or ba hn chn va (for female). A Vietnamese funeral begins with a wake and follows specific traditions and rites. 49 days, then 100 days, 1 year, and 3 years is the official end of the funeral. However, they are allowed to pay their respects by bowing before the casket. Regardless of methods, the persons eternal home is often at a cemetery. For example, Vietnamese Buddhists pray for the deceased for 49 days. During the afternoon, food and offerings are arranged in front of an altar, and food is served on the table. Most Vietnamese are Buddhist; other religious preferences include Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Chinese Confucianism. 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. It's advisable to learn what to expect if you plan to attend a Vietnamese funeral. Though there are no hard and fast rules around funeral customs, there are certain Vietnamese funeral traditions that are usually observed. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. This period of mourning usually lasts 7 weeks (or 49 days). After the ritual is over, everyone proceeds to eat and talk about the passed family members life and experiences. Death is another part of life for Vietnamese Buddhists. Other families have pictures of their family members on theirVietnamese altar instead of hanging a colorful background panel. 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. Purple wreaths, often using orchids, are also chosen by many people when they want to show pride, respect, and admiration for the contributions and achievements of the deceased. Monks chant and pray in the days leading to the funeral and during the ceremony. Friends send the mother nourishing food, and the baby gold bracelets, clothing, and trinkets. Family members take turns sitting with the body while it is in the home. 2020. 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. 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. The purpose of Dam Gio is to provide offerings to passed loved ones, so they are comfortable wherever they are. Ethnic people believe that when the children are not breastfed, they will eventually die, so do-tom-ami will help bring the child back to the mother, receiving better care. Staterooms at our Whittier mortuary and the newly built Hua Yuan Ceremonial Complex are designed with the specific cultural needs of Asian families in mind. 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. The typical foodstuffs are three bowls of rice, three cups of tea, and other daily foods, such as hard-boiled eggs. in this beautiful Southeast Asian country. Around the world, everyone celebrates birthdays, but in Vietnam, they celebrate other important dates a little differently. 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. Many Vietnamese traditions and customs are based around their ancestral beliefs. The family remains in mourning from two to three years, depending on their relationship with the deceased. When someone dies, the family will invite a shaman to perform a ceremony and hang the corpse on a rack, and organize a feast at home until the body is taken to the cemetery, where they continue the ceremony. You should choose dark clothes such as a black shirt and black pants - the safest and most appropriate choice. As with all Asian funerals, honoring tradition, customs and heritage is fundamental to Vietnamese ceremonies. Family and friends give offerings to the deceased like incense, food, and money. The first stage is called " Nhap Quan " (Entering the Coffin). The children of the deceased will use the most special clothes, often called tham troi, which are wide and knee-length shirts, sewn of coarse fabric but not carefully sewn, leaving with rather ugly natural fibers, loose sleeves. 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. First, its important to see that ancestor worship is common, even encouraged, for Vietnam Catholics. 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. The father may see the child only after the baby has been cleaned and dressed. Loss is hard. 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. There is almost always an open casket to allow attendees to say goodbye. 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. In Vietnamese homes, people keep altars year-round to remember their deceased family members. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. In this guide, well break down the history, traditions, and etiquette at Vietnamese funerals. Vietnamese families share food with their lost loved one. According to Vietnamese funeral traditions, when the person is out of breath, a chopstick is placed across the jaw to prevent teeth from grinding together and some rice, and three coins (or gold) are put in so that the dead person does not turn into a hungry ghost. Most religious Vietnamese are Buddhists. advice. The mourning period is determined by the family's religious practices. Bodies can be cremated or buried in Vietnamese culture, it typically depends on the religion and preferences of the deceased and the family. Once the body is inside the coffin, a monk or a shaman will offer prayers, surrounded by the family. The family will lay the body in the coffin, then put in tea bags to prevent odor and humidity. I have a huge passion for exploring new places & different cultures. 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. The details of this example should not be used as representative of all funerary rituals in Vietnam. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. 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. 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. They often light an incense stick and bow one or three times before the casket. The first Vietnamese believed they were the descendants of a dragon and an angel. 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. In Vietnam, this is a tradition known as Dam Gio. All will stay close to the coffin and commemorate the deceased. If you have been invited to a Dam Gio or are looking to learn more about what this ceremony entails, youve come to the right place. If the family is going to observe the 100th day or 1 . In Buddhism, for older people who are ill and know they are going to die, death is acceptable and is not shocking for the family. 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 lights incense daily to remember their loved one. Why do Vietnamese people eat vegetarian at a funeral? Death is seen as a natural part of life that should be honored with respect and tradition, The traditional German funeral is steeped in age-old customs and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Except from the depraved customs, funerals in Vietnam are a long-standing and unique culture that brings many human values to the local people. 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. Rituals for Placing Body in Casket The casket is placed in the main living area. In Vietnam as elsewhere, these ceremonies are predictable events in the steady unfolding of a life, as inevitable as the change of seasons. Hopefully, the above information has helped you better understand the Vietnamese funeral traditions. Family members that die a bad (violent) death are more likely to be a bitter spirit than those that die a good death. Their altars tend to include red cloth, flowers, candles, incense, photos, religious icons, and incense. The next morning comes signifying its time for the procession. On the third day, everyone gathers at the home for the funeral procession to either the cemetery or crematorium, depending on their faith. Pinterest. Usage of any form or other service on our website is The length of a Vietnamese funeral can vary. While Buddhist funeral customs vary from country to country, Buddhists often choose cremation. Many Vietnamese are lactose intolerant as adults so do not consume much milk. In South America, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in November, and in Vietnam, this celebration is Dam Gio. forms. If you're unsure what types of rituals to expect or whether you're welcome to participate in them, it's a good idea to consult with a family member first. Buddhist and Catholic beliefs shape death views in their own right. Rose Hills associates speak many languages, including English and Vietnamese, and are well-versed in Vietnamese cultural traditions. There are customs followed depending on the familys Buddhist or Catholic preference. Some believe that those who fail to show proper respect to their parents and ancestors could receive bad luck and misfortune during their lives. Death is a logical next step for Vietnamese elders that lived a full, happy life. Shorts or dresses below the knee and shirts that don't expose too much work perfectly. During the journey, a family member will scatter paper effigy (paper gold bars) to lead the way for the deceased. Variations within the Vietnamese culture occur between regions, religious . The Vietnamese strongly believe that a person should die at home and be surrounded by his family. Most Vietnamese Buddhists Belong to the Mahayana school. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. This following article may be the best answer for the question What souvenir to buy in Vietnam?, Address: No.27 To Vinh Dien Street, Khuong Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam. Facebook. Yes, it is appropriate in Vietnamese culture to send funeral flowers as a gesture of sympathy. 4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival Pagoda. instead of hanging a colorful background panel. Dam Gio preparations begin months before the actual day of celebration. 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