The Vietnamese celebrate this event and invite the spirits of their family members to visit their home and fulfill their filial responsibilities. Many elderly people revealed that not only are babies buried alive with their mothers, who unfortunately died during childbirth, but babies who are still breastfed also cannot escape the death. 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. Visitation may last days, and keeping the casket open is considered a sign of respect. There are customs followed depending on the familys Buddhist or Catholic preference. After the date of the funeral is carefully chosen, the funeral wake, mass or prayer, and burial all together last three days. of an actual attorney. Therefore, Vietnamese funeral clothes are also focused on, appropriately selected to show respect and remembrance for the deceased, and at the same time clearly distinguish roles and relationships between family members. generalized educational content about wills. In ancient times, the flags were also used as an announcement there was a death at the home. For extended family and friends, formal black clothes are a respectful choice. 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. People dont speak about death every day, but we all acknowledge the importance of this event. Families spend large amounts on funerals since they believe death is simply the beginning of the afterlife. Our funeral plannersmany of whom speak Vietnamesespecialize in culturally sensitive funeral and burial traditions, and they work closely with families to design ceremonies that truly reflect the unique lives of the people being honored. Sally is a prolific non-fiction and fiction writer, who has appeared in multiple print and digital publications. 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. Christmas Card Etiquette After a Death in the Family. Regardless of methods, the persons eternal home is often at a cemetery. Gifts like wreaths for the casket, flowers, or money are all good choices. generalized educational content about wills. The length of a Vietnamese funeral can vary. For the Vietnamese, death, and the ritual and practice of ancestor worship, constitutes the transfer of power from the tangible life to the intangible. 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. Instagram. LinkedIn. This is seen as an important part of honoring the deceased and showing respect for their memory. The family bathes and washes the body. Chuan Quang Minh Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, www.quangminh.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=620:a-vietnamese-buddhist-funeral. Why do Vietnamese people eat vegetarian at a funeral? This link will open in a new window. Then, nails are clipped, and the body is dressed in new clothes. 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. 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. The family altar is often carried to the gravesite where it is reassembled. Vietnamese people celebrate one month of baby. form. However, they are allowed to pay their respects by bowing before the casket. The second day is considered the main day of Dam Gio. Traditionally, black and white funeral or mourning flags are placed outside the home to follow the road to the main thoroughfare. Particular passions, milestone moments and legacies created weave together to tell a story that is completely unique. 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. Funerals are a time for close and extended family and friends to come together to assist their loved one into the afterlife. After that, friends and neighbors come to light up incense, offer prayers, and take a last look at the deceaseds face. Vietnamese bishops recently released a set of guidelines focusing on ancestor worship for Catholic families to follow. It may be surprising to you how openly the family talks about death. The family will lay the body in the coffin, then put in tea bags to prevent odor and humidity. Also, it prevents the dead from coming back to haunt the living. 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. 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. According to Vietnamese funeral customs, if it is permanent, the grave will be built firmly, but if it is reburial, the grave is only lightly covered with earth and grass. If you are wondering why this is such an important event, its important to consider the impact of Confucianism in Vietnam. All rights reserved. Image: SteveAndNoelle Preparing The Body Events are similar in pattern to what happens during the first day, but they are focused on worshipping and offering gifts to their ancestors. Then, placing the shirt back into the coffin to complete the ritual. 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. Likewise, when guests bow their heads at the casket, they should bow three or five times. There are certain etiquette guidelines to follow to avoid offending the grieving family. The family places a small knife on the deceased's stomach to protect the soul. First, its important to see that ancestor worship is common, even encouraged, for Vietnam Catholics. After the body has been interred, the funeral procession returns to the home where a meal is served. 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 sing hymns and soft music plays during a Catholic mass. Attending a funeral can be a stressful experience, especially if you're unsure of the cultural or religious traditions associated with it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Variations within the Vietnamese culture occur between regions, religious . Meanwhile, the grandson of the deceased wears a hat and white robe; son-in-law and brothers wear white long shirts, and sisters use twisted white fabric to tie her hair. 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. Learning from other cultures can help you honor your loved ones. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. Close family members wear white or yellow headbands to signal their close ties to the deceased. They slaughter chickens, ducks, and other animals to cook traditional dishes for the occasion. By spending quality time with family from all over and remembering their elders, they adhere to the important tradition of respecting their elders and honoring their loved ones. Some families wear headbands to distinguish their relationship with the deceased. You will see the body treated with the utmost care. The idea behind this cheerful act is that music can comfort the deceased on the way to hell. Some sects burn the paper to speed its process in reaching the deceased in the afterlife. The relatives would ask for the afterlife name and last wishes, which are called testaments, then use five-spice water (ngu vi huong) to clean thebodyand change clothes. 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. Not quite half of Vietnamese Americans are Buddhist. 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. It's advisable to learn what to expect if you plan to attend a Vietnamese funeral. 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. Close family members hold prayer services before laying the deceased in the coffin. Other families have pictures of their family members on their. The details of this example should not be used as representative of all funerary rituals in Vietnam. A dignified and thoughtful funeral is not only the farewell of the living to the dead, but it also shows the hearts of descendants, relatives, friends - wishes for them to leave peacefully, without worries. But now, people often call up a service to help with it. Pinterest. 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. Offers apply to new and qualifying cemetery contracts only. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service CopingWith the First Thanksgiving Without Your Loved One, It can be difficult to adapt to life after the loss of a loved one, and it might seem like things will never go back to being the same. Keen to explore the world? This link will open in a new window. At the celebration, friends and family present mother and child with luck money. NOTE: Understanding the role culture plays in health care is essential. Most families would prefer that attendees dress in a respectful manner. in this beautiful Southeast Asian country. Rice production requires complex irrigation and collective farming, which led to the development of a strong sense of community in Vietnamese villages. As with all Asian funerals, honoring tradition, customs and heritage is fundamental to Vietnamese ceremonies. | Terms | Privacy Policy. In a Vietnamese Catholic home, you will find altars to God and the deceased next to each other. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. Cake values integrity and transparency. Below are some commonly asked questions around Vietnamese funeral traditions, customs, and beliefs. Most religious Vietnamese are Buddhists. Bring a gift such as white flowers. You should wear black like the other funeral attendees. A funeral procession is a colorful event. 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. This link will open in a new window. Ancestor worship isnt as much a superstition as it is a religious practice in Vietnam. TOP 6 THINGS ABOUT VIETNAMESE FUNERALS TO KNOW, Vietnamese funerals: Vietnamese death rituals, Vietnamese funeral attire for those who come to the funeral, Vietnamese funeral music according to Northern customs, Music in Vietnamese funerals in accordance to Southern customs, Vietnamese funeral superstitions: Do-tom-ami. 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. 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. Other families have pictures of their family members on theirVietnamese altar instead of hanging a colorful background panel. The mourning period is determined by the family's religious practices. 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. Lighting candles in remembrance of the deceased. Easily publish a free obituary, share funeral details, collect memories and more. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, At Cake, we help you create one for free. This link will open in a new window. First, the body is cleaned using a towel with water infused with fragrant leaves and rice wine. According to the locals belief, the soul may get lost without this trace. Except from the depraved customs, funerals in Vietnam are a long-standing and unique culture that brings many human values to the local people. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. Votive paper symbolizes paper money, and coins are dropped along the way to the cemetery. Then, nails are clipped, and the body is dressed in new clothes. Reincarnation plays an important role in Buddhist funeral traditions, as Buddhists see death as a transition from this life to the next, bringing the soul closer to Nirvana, a state of absolute bliss. 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. However, any white flower is considered appropriate. Asians, especially Vietnamese, are very peculiar about the notions and perspectives surrounding death. You will act with the same kind of somber respect as you would at any funeral. Many religious Vietnamese families are Buddhists. Vietnamese believe a persons soul wanders after death. Heres some more useful information before you attend. Their altars tend to include red cloth, flowers, candles, incense, photos, religious icons, and incense. Other family members recite prayers and light incense at the start of each day. The traditional diet is mostly rice, fish, and vegetables, plus pork or chicken when available. In some places, grandsons and granddaughters will use white headbands with red dots, while grandchildren have blue dots on theirs. It is considered bad luck for menstruating women to light incense. 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. Ties to the deceased next to each other asked questions around Vietnamese funeral traditions, customs and heritage fundamental! Quang Minh Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, www.quangminh.org.au/index.php? option=com_content & view=article & id=620:.. 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