In Vietnam, there are also many traditional superstitions about death. This is an important tradition in Vietnam that can be traced back many centuries. 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. If you have been invited to a Dam Gio, its customary to arrive with a death anniversary gift. Hopefully, the above information has helped you better understand the Vietnamese funeral traditions. Dam Gio, or the Great Memory, is a traditional Vietnamese death anniversary that is celebrated once a year to honor the memory of loved ones who have passed away. This can be fruit, wine, or a gift basket made for the occasion. 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. Buddhist Death Rituals and End of Life Traditions, Buddhists believe that a person goes through a process called samsara, or reincarnation at death. Family members and the person who has passed typically wear white; guests wear black or gray. If the family has an altar, it is decorated with photos of the deceased and flowers. According to the locals belief, the soul may get lost without this trace. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. Generally, services will last around an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the size and scope of the service. 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. 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. The mourning period is determined by the family's religious practices. 41 Heartfelt Quotes for Missing Loved Ones at Christmas. This event is usually celebrated once a year, and it can be in honor of more than one family member who has passed away. The family will lay the body in the coffin, then put in tea bags to prevent odor and humidity. The men slaughter larger animals such as cows and pigs and take care of chores for the day. 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. Immediate Need: Call 24/7 at 562-699-0921 | Cemetery hours:Sunrise to Sunset Daily | General business hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Daily. subject to our Terms of Use. Most Vietnamese Buddhists Belong to the Mahayana school. However, any white flower is considered appropriate. 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. Rituals Be aware that there are a variety of Vietnamese cultures and religious practices. Rose Hills introduced the complexwhich welcomes families of all cultural backgroundsin 2019. Keen to explore the world? There are many unique elements that go into making up the ceremony of Dam Gio. Incense is lit, and offerings are made as part of the ceremony. Family members might try to crawl into the casket to be closer to the deceased. In South America, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in November, and in Vietnam, this celebration is Dam Gio. 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. This is so the spirit can gently move into higher states and be reborn in a better realm. It's advisable to learn what to expect if you plan to attend a Vietnamese funeral. 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. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service If the deceased's life was cut short due to misfortune, illness, or an accident, then the music is toned down to a proper somber tempo/style. This link will open in a new window. Bells and Gongs: Often there will be a ringing of bells or gongs as a part of the funeral rituals. When it comes to the offerings for ancestors, its normal to see many traditional dishes, fruit, wine, tea, and chopsticks set out. Odd numbers are considered lucky by the Vietnamese, and when lighting incense, guests should choose three or five sticks, with three being the ideal. Create a free Cake end-of-life planning profile and instantly share your health, legal, funeral, and legacy decisions with a loved one. 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. For the Vietnamese, death, and the ritual and practice of ancestor worship, constitutes the transfer of power from the tangible life to the intangible. 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. Celebrating a Death Anniversary in Vietnam. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. Download your FREE planning guide today. Instead, this is a festive day during which family members and friends gather to honor their family members who have passed away. todayyou can discover, store, and share your end-of-life preferences with family and friends. However, it is considered rude and very disrespectful to smile or laugh while at the wake or funeral. In Vietnamese homes, people keep altars year-round to remember their deceased family members. forms. Celebrating a one-month-old baby is like commemorating a president's first 100 days in office. This ensures the deceased an easy journey to eternity. Next to. Since then, the religion and philosophy has prevailed in many aspects of society. For example, I was shocked to discover that Americans and perhaps, most citizens of the Western world do not photograph funerals or wakes. In the Buddhism religio Typically, the women in the family begin cooking early in the morning. The casket is placed in the main living area. As other superstitions in Vietnamese funerals, this is not suitable for a civilized lifestyle, is economically costly, affects environmental sanitation, and spreads diseases. All rights reserved. They dress the deceased in their finest clothes for the vigil. Particularly, if the death is recent or hasnt exceeded two years, its important to be sensitive about what is communicated to the grieving family. 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. Prayers are offered, and the casket is lowered into the prepared gravesite. 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. Vietnamese funerals have complex rituals, to say the least: gold coins and rice in the deceased person's mouth, finger and toe nails clipped and packaged, and, weirdest of all, a vigilant guard for the coffin so that cats and dogs don't jump over the body and bring the deceased back to life. Rice production requires complex irrigation and collective farming, which led to the development of a strong sense of community in Vietnamese villages. Other families have pictures of their family members on theirVietnamese altar instead of hanging a colorful background panel. 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. 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 youre a close family member youll wear a white robe or hat. It only takes 5 minutes. After the body has been interred, the funeral procession returns to the home where a meal is served. A bowl of rice, a boiled egg, a small plate of salt, and a small cup of water are what they need to prepare. If the deceased will be cremated, then this is likely to be a final aspect of the service. In modern times, and for practicalitys sake, home altars are now set up to ease the deceaseds journey into becoming an ancestor. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. First, its important to see that ancestor worship is common, even encouraged, for Vietnam Catholics. The deceased is washed once more and dressed in white clothing, then placed in the casket. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. 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. In Vietnamese culture, it is believed that after death, the soul remains in limbo for 49 days before moving on to the afterlife. advice. LinkedIn. Vietnamese people fear that the evil spirits will be jealous of new clothes and cause the baby to become ill. Not quite half of Vietnamese Americans are Buddhist. Honor your loved one with a free online memorial. Funerals are a time for close and extended family and friends to come together to assist their loved one into the afterlife. Catholics believe in both cremation and burial, though the Catholic church previously did not encourage their community to be cremated (this has since been changed). Particular passions, milestone moments and legacies created weave together to tell a story that is completely unique. Therefore, it's bad luck to carry a corpse home. Vietnamese people celebrate one month of baby. Embalming and organ donation are acceptable in the Catholic faith. In addition to the beliefs and customs associated with Vietnamese funerals, there are also some traditional superstitions and beliefs surrounding death that you may encounter while attending a funeral service. The family lights incense daily to remember their loved one. The mood remains somber. 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. 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. After the date of the funeral is carefully chosen, the funeral wake, mass or prayer, and burial all together last three days. According to Vietnamese funeral customs, the daughter or / and daughter-in-law of the dead person needs to wear a banana braided belt, let their hair down and not wear sandals. In Vietnamese culture, death is seen as a natural part of life and not something to be feared or dreaded. The Vietnamese celebrate this event and invite the spirits of their family members to visit their home and fulfill their filial responsibilities. EN. Many Vietnamese are lactose intolerant as adults so do not consume much milk. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. 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. Family members and close friends prepare the body by washing and dressing the deceased in their best suit of clothes. Cake values integrity and transparency. Vietnamese people believe that it is a bad misfortune to die away from home, but also bad luck if they carry a corpse home. The next morning comes signifying its time for the procession. In modern times, thanks to the education of the government, this custom has disappeared, but its horror remains forever in the hearts of people living in that period. A nice funeral flower stand is also a great choice. End of Life Care: The Vietnamese Culture. Culture Clues, University of Washington Medical Center, April 2007. depts.washington.edu/pfes/PDFs/End%20of%20Life-Vietnamese.pdf. The design of the tall funeral structures called chao pha and heo "trees . Vietnamese funerals headband - Source: nhacaitotnhat.com. Ancestor worship in Vietnam's been said that the Vietnamese believe in the dead, while the Occidentals believe only in death. 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 body is then wrapped with white cloth and put into a coffin with their foot towards the main entrance of the house. During this time, families will gather together to offer prayers and offerings to the deceased. While Vietnamese mothers are expected to rest indoors without taking a shower for a month after giving birth. Vietnamese bishops issue guidelines on ancestor veneration., www.ucanews.org/news/vietnamese-bishops-issue-guidelines-on-ancestor-worship/86469, Nguyen, Peter. Animistic beliefs (that all objects, people, and places have a spirit) are the cornerstone of Vietnamese funerals. 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. Sally is a prolific non-fiction and fiction writer, who has appeared in multiple print and digital publications. AsianCustoms.eu, All Rights Reserved. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service There is a mass on the 7th, 49th, and 100th day after death. Death Rituals & Traditions Around the Globe. The most suitable are white lotus flowers as it symbolises purification. Ancestor worship isnt as much a superstition as it is a religious practice in Vietnam. If the family is going to observe the 100th day or 1 . 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. 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. 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. The typical foodstuffs are three bowls of rice, three cups of tea, and other daily foods, such as hard-boiled eggs. 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. 49 days, then 100 days, 1 year, and 3 years is the official end of the funeral. The idea behind this cheerful act is that music can comfort the deceased on the way to hell. Common meat cooked during Dam Gio include chicken, duck, seafood, and beef. The gifts are placed on the altar, and the eldest member of the family proceeds with the ritual of inviting spirits to the home, pouring wine, lighting incense, and praying. Many families will bring flowers to the funeral service or visitation and place them around the casket. 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. Another important aspect to remember during Dam Gio is what to say on a death anniversary. 4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival Pagoda. And for me, it will be so great to share some of my travel experience in Vietnam to other travelers through my posts on this site. While Buddhist funeral customs vary from country to country, Buddhists often choose cremation. You should first find out the school of Buddhism the family belongs to if they are Buddhists. More guests tend to arrive with gifts such as fruit, wine, and baskets with tea, nuts, and alcohol. Once the body is inside the coffin, a monk or a shaman will offer prayers, surrounded by the family. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This can be fruit, wine, or a gift basket made for the occasion. Usage of any form or other service on our website is Easily publish a free obituary, share funeral details, collect memories and more. The main Catholic traditions observed in a Vietnamese funeral include: Most funeral rites are performed in the presence of the body. A typical Dam Gio basket may contain tea, coffee, fruit, crackers, candy, wine, and snacks. Springfield, IL, England. The family places a small knife on the deceased's stomach to protect the soul. Vietnamese Author Dieu-Hien T. Hoang describes her uncle's death, recalling how each family member "used their talent to "serve" [her] uncle [on his deathbed].". Traditional Vietnamese funerals are multi-day events and involve several elaborate rituals. Family members usually have to wear Vietnamese funeral white headbands, but the style will vary slightly between biological children, in-laws, siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 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. In the Vietnamese culture, remembering the death of a loved one and conducting a death ceremony is a filial act. Keep reading to find out. First, the family will offer a simple meal to the deceaseds altar. Events are similar in pattern to what happens during the first day, but they are focused on worshipping and offering gifts to their ancestors. It is located at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia , with an area of 311,699 square kilometres (120,348 sq mi) and population of 96 million, making it the world's sixteenth-most populous country . Hoang, Dieu-Hien. Death is a logical next step for Vietnamese elders that lived a full, happy life. 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