This link will open in a new window. 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. The deceased will be buried or cremated based on the family's wishes and religious preferences. The grandchildren and relatives only wear white or yellow cotton headband. This is how long it takes the spirit to be re-born again into a new life. The usual dcor is a banana bunch, a pomelo, seasonal fruits, and a picture frame of the deceased. 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. There are many cultures with specific rituals and celebrations devoted to ancestral worship. Kelley, Liam c. Confucianism in Vietnam: A State of the Field Essay. Journal of Vietnamese Studies, Vol. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and Theological and Cultural Foundation., www.macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/10557/1/fulltext.pdf. Sally is a prolific non-fiction and fiction writer, who has appeared in multiple print and digital publications. Incense is lit, and offerings are made as part of the ceremony. Then, nails are clipped, and the body is dressed in new clothes. 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. As strange as it sounds, the family will ask a monk or a fortune teller for a good hour to bury their loved one. The length of a Vietnamese funeral can vary. 49 days, then 100 days, 1 year, and 3 years is the official end of the funeral. I have a huge passion for exploring new places & different cultures. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. Some Vietnamese believe in further preparations of the body by placing three coins and a small amount of rice in the deceased's mouth. Dam Gio is usually celebrated at the house of the eldest son. Other families have pictures of their family members on theirVietnamese altar instead of hanging a colorful background panel. 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. . Mournful tunes start once again to mark the deceaseds final moments with family at home. 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 . The average altar is a wooden cabinet that holds flowers and food. The family believes that the deceaseds soul comes back on this day to share in a feast and meet new family members. The deceased is washed once more and dressed in white clothing, then placed in the casket. Bells and Gongs: Often there will be a ringing of bells or gongs as a part of the funeral rituals. In general, discussion, avoid joking, negatively criticizing or discussing sensitive issues that involve the family, and being indifferent to the family's grief. Science also has a number of explanations for these actions such as absorbing moisture, and preventing the body from rotting (decomposing) too quickly as the Vietnamese funerals last for days. Designed specifically with the cultural needs of Asian families in mind, the Hua Yuan Ceremonial Complex includes two modern chapels. In Vietnamese culture, actions are important. Catholicism is another popular religion among Vietnamese families, and as such, the funeral for the deceased may follow common Catholic traditions. If you have been invited to a Dam Gio, its customary to arrive with a death anniversary gift. If you'd like some help and guidance through the process, check out our post-loss checklist. Death is also an occasion of major religious significance, serving as a reminder of the Buddhas teaching on impermanence as well as providing an opportunity to assist the loved ones as they travel on to their new existence. To avoid that, lets check out several dos and donts below: Hi there, I'm a passionate writer about all things culture, travel, culinary, and more! 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. Cake values integrity and transparency. When the two-day celebration concludes, it is customary for hosts to offer their guests Vietnamese cakes to take home. This is seen as an important part of honoring the deceased and showing respect for their memory. Vietnam or Viet Nam (Vietnamese: Vit Nam, [vt nm] ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia. These define the way to the home so mourners can find their way to the wake to pay their respects. But now, people often call up a service to help with it. Funerals are a time for close and extended family and friends to come together to assist their loved one into the afterlife. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that comprise the Dignity Memorial network. This tradition represents the cycle of life when the body will be returned to the earth. advice. We are not attorneys and are not providing you with legal (For example, red is considered a color for happier and joyful occasions, so sending red flowers wouldn't be a good idea.) On the third day, everyone gathers at the home for the funeral procession to either the cemetery or crematorium, depending on their faith. forms. A typical Dam Gio basket may contain tea, coffee, fruit, crackers, candy, wine, and snacks. In Vietnamese homes, people keep altars year-round to remember their deceased family members. Living things like rivers, rocks, trees, and mountains all have a spirit. At Cake, we help you create one for free. Attending a funeral can be a stressful experience, especially if you're unsure of the cultural or religious traditions associated with it. They can be "pleasant and feared, harmless and dangerous, moral creatures and unhappy suicides, male and female, human and un-human". Rose Hills is a foremost expert in Vietnamese funeral traditions. They dress the deceased in their finest clothes for the vigil. The familys representative reads out loud a eulogy for the dead, followed by closing the coffin. 4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival Pagoda. Typically, the family plays a key role in shaping a ceremony, as do monks or priests. 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. Ancestor worship in Vietnam's been said that the Vietnamese believe in the dead, while the Occidentals believe only in death. Most religious Vietnamese are Buddhists. For example, I was shocked to discover that Americans and perhaps, most citizens of the Western world do not photograph funerals or wakes. Family and friends take turns keeping vigil over the body throughout the night. Some sects burn the paper to speed its process in reaching the deceased in the afterlife. Traditionally, black and white funeral or mourning flags are placed outside the home to follow the road to the main thoroughfare. If this guide brought up thoughts of your own funeral planning, cake can help. 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. The burial is another time for the family to grieve and say their last goodbye. During this time, families will gather together to offer prayers and offerings to the deceased. 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. The second day is considered the main day of Dam Gio. Death is an unavoidable part of life, and Vietnamese culture has its own customs, beliefs, and superstitions when it comes to death and funerals. During Dam Gio, its customary to prepare traditional dishes as well as the deceased family members favorite foods. Wondering what rituals will take place in a Vietnamese funeral? 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. Family and friends give offerings to the deceased like incense, food, and money. 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. Keep reading to find out. A typical funeral music band includes trumpet, drum, and Vietnamese two-chord fiddle playing. Csikszentmihalyi, M. Confucius. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford, 31 Mar. 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. Vietnamese Funeral Customs - Rituals to the Deceased and the Wake For the deceased, the body is washed and dressed in formal clothes. Close relatives are invited for the two days of celebration, and they stay at the house of the host to help with preparations for the last day, which is most important. As day eases into night, the family will prepare a hearty dinner for the deceaseds altar. Also, it prevents the dead from coming back to haunt the living. 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. 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. arent played at Buddhist ceremonies. The first stage is called " Nhap Quan " (Entering the Coffin). Buddhist and Catholic beliefs shape death views in their own right. You should first find out the school of Buddhism the family belongs to if they are Buddhists. Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online When introduced to a new culture, respecting traditions is essential to show honor to your host. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. 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. This is an important tradition in Vietnam that can be traced back many centuries. The family bathes and washes the body. When the Vietnamese funerals are over at the grave, everyone will carry the photo and perform the ceremony to go home, but by another way and also stop crying, so that the spirit of the dead person wont follow. It marks the end of a lifetime and premises a good beginning of the next life. Funeral guests frequently give gifts of money to the family before the funeral. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death 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. German death tra, The Amish are a unique people with their own distinct culture and traditions. The most suitable are white lotus flowers as it symbolises purification. The deceaseds spirit finds a new life and body to begin the cycle of rebirth over again. The great mourning time for a funeral in Vietnam is 3 years, but in reality only lasts 27 months, while there are many types of small mourning periods, ranging from 3 months to a year. Pinterest. After that, the family will cover the deceaseds face with a white sheet and light up candles next to where he or she rests. First, the body is cleaned using a towel with water infused with fragrant leaves and rice wine. This ensures all the family ancestors are together in the afterlife. Most Vietnamese Buddhists Belong to the Mahayana school. Vietnamese families share food with their lost loved one. In this guide, well break down the history, traditions, and etiquette at Vietnamese funerals. Mourners often wear white headbands. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. It is considered bad luck for menstruating women to light incense. Once the coffin is about two meters underground, the family will bid adieu to the deceased and leave. 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. First, the family will offer a simple meal to the deceaseds altar. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. Instead, youll most likely hear monks chanting throughout the funeral. Buddhist dont eat meat products 49 days after the funeral (and most dont eat them at all!) There may be a meditation period and chanting. 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. 2020. First, the body is cleaned using a towel with water infused with fragrant leaves and rice wine. Because the celebration is so closely tied to honoring and respecting elders, while at a Dam Gio celebration, it's essential to give preference in food, seating, and conversation to anyone older than you. Below are some commonly asked questions around Vietnamese funeral traditions, customs, and beliefs. *Standard property includes mausoleums, niches, urn gardens and select lawns (10% savings). . Instagram. In South America, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in November, and in Vietnam, this celebration is Dam Gio. Musicians accompany the procession and play uplifting celebratory music if the deceased died a natural death after a long life. Some believe that those who fail to show proper respect to their parents and ancestors could receive bad luck and misfortune during their lives. An unlucky day means bad fortune for the family. 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. Guests are expected to bow toward the loved one as a sign of appreciation for lessons regarding impermanence of life. Rituals Be aware that there are a variety of Vietnamese cultures and religious practices. Though there are no hard and fast rules around funeral customs, there are certain Vietnamese funeral traditions that are usually observed. Dam Gio preparations begin months before the actual day of celebration. Some families also include a large red or vibrantly colored banner that hangs down as the background of the altar. By clicking "Accept", you agree to our website's cookie use as described in our Cookie Policy. Youll see family and friends taking photos of their loved one in the casket. Many Vietnamese are lactose intolerant as adults so do not consume much milk. Built in 1999, the three-story Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Columbarium is the largest Buddhist pagoda in the United States. 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. Although you are not expected to wear formal attire to attend a Dam Gio, go for simpler clothes that are casual but look nice. Out of respect for this, you can light an odd number of incense or candles as part of your offering.). The photo, incense bowl and altar tray are brought back and placed on the altar, which must always be incense and smoke during the mourning period. Except from the depraved customs, funerals in Vietnam are a long-standing and unique culture that brings many human values to the local people. Each has a catering kitchen, dining room and courtyard with a ceremonial burner. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure. Download your FREE planning guide today. Facebook. On the second day, visitors come to pay their respects. 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. 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. Regardless of methods, the persons eternal home is often at a cemetery. Usage of any form or other service on our website is Here are the most common funeral rituals so you can knowwhat to expect at a Buddhist funeral: Death is another part of life for Vietnamese Buddhists. Ancestors that aren't properly worshiped turn into malevolent ghosts that haunt family members. In Vietnam, there are also many traditional superstitions about death. 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. Be mindful of the dress code. Make a Cake end-of-life planning profile todayyou can discover, store, and share your end-of-life preferences with family and friends. 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. Another depraved custom of Vietnamese funeral is do-tom-ami - burying babies alive with their deceased mothers, often in hidden villages in the Central Highlands and some central provinces. Many people worry about this and invite monks, priests and shamans everywhere to perform rituals to dispel bad omens, there are even cases where family members refuse to bury the deceased for fear of duplicate funerals. These wreaths are not required but are often sent by many visitors, showing compassion, respect and sympathy for the family. They slaughter chickens, ducks, and other animals to cook traditional dishes for the occasion. 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. Its often sadder for families in the North because of the harmony of drums, trumpets and cries, while the atmosphere of the funeral in the South is softer with lyrical songs. 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. AsianCustoms.eu, All Rights Reserved. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. All rights reserved. Keen to explore the world? The Insiders Guide to Funeral & Cremation Planning will walk you through inspirational ideas and the simple steps to planning an unforgettable memorial of a loved ones lifeor your own when you plan in advance. Twitter. 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. If that person dies without saying anything prior, the above things will still happen, but the people around will wait for their relatives to return to look at the deceased one last time before holding a funeral. Since then, the religion and philosophy has prevailed in many aspects of society. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service Superstitions differed based on location, too. You will act with the same kind of somber respect as you would at any funeral. Traditionally, blood sacrifices and magic words made spirits happy. Pregnant women are forbidden to attend a cremations since it is believed the released soul may become entrapped in the baby's body instead of continuing its journey into the spirit world. In the Vietnamese culture, remembering the death of a loved one and conducting a death ceremony is a filial act. 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. 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. These offerings include candles, incense, fruit, and other gifts. Buddhist and Catholic beliefs shape death views in their own right. Keep reading to find out what to expect at a funeral in this beautiful Southeast Asian country. However, today, it usually lasts around three days. Death is another part of life for Vietnamese Buddhists. 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. Most Vietnamese are Buddhist; other religious preferences include Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Chinese Confucianism. During the funeral service or memorial service, there is typically an altar at which offerings for the deceased are placed. Families create an altar featuring offerings and a portrait of the deceased. A nice funeral flower stand is also a great choice. Instead, this is a festive day during which family members and friends gather to honor their family members who have passed away. Confucianism was introduced in Vietnam during the Chinese conquest. Prayers are offered, and the casket is lowered into the prepared gravesite. 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. The men slaughter larger animals such as cows and pigs and take care of chores for the day. With crimson pillars and golden glazed tiles, its architecture harks to ancient Chinese palaces. Families re-bury bones in Northern Vietnam after three years in shrines. They often keep their loved one at home after their death for anywhere ranging from three days to a month. Chuan Quang Minh Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, www.quangminh.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=620:a-vietnamese-buddhist-funeral. of an actual attorney. After the date of the funeral is carefully chosen, the funeral wake, mass or prayer, and burial all together last three days. Many families prefer to wear white headbands, while others choose to wear yellow ones to the funeral. Christmas Card Etiquette After a Death in the Family. Before that, the family will create an altar for the dead. If you're attending a Buddhist funeral, you're likely to participate in different traditions, or to at least bear witness to them. Less access to elders and changing politics leave funeral customs in flux. 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 Vietnamese celebrate this event and invite the spirits of their family members to visit their home and fulfill their filial responsibilities. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. Keep in mind that many modern families have adopted Western cultural funeral rites, while others have created a hybrid tradition in a blending of the two. There are certain etiquette guidelines to follow to avoid offending the grieving family. 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. Family and friends sing hymns and soft music plays during a Catholic mass. At the celebration, friends and family present mother and child with luck money. instead of hanging a colorful background panel. Now that youre familiar with Vietnams religious history, lets take a look at how religions influence modern funeral customs. At Cake, we help you create one for free. This link will open in a new window. Once the family table is set with all the food, the eldest member of the family prays in front of the altar to invite spirits into the home. Ghosts in Vietnam are known to take on many forms and do not fit into one category. Family members coordinate and decide who is in charge of each task during the two-day celebration and ritual of Dam Gio. Dam Gio altar decorations include fresh, bright-colored flowers in beautifully decorated vases and two candleholders in each corner of the altar. This is how long it takes the spirit to be re-born again into a new life. Many Vietnamese traditions and customs are based around their ancestral beliefs. A bowl of rice, a boiled egg, a small plate of salt, and a small cup of water are what they need to prepare. Staff Writers. Typically, the women in the family begin cooking early in the morning. If you choose flowers make sure to avoid reda color reserved for happy occasions, not funerals. Instagram. Contrary to what some might believe, this is not perceived as a sorrowful occasion. Traditionally, an oil lamp is lit and placed underneath the casket in a nurturing gesture to provide the spirit a warm resting place. The family will choose a lucky day for their loved ones funeral, so prepare to have a flexible schedule when planning to attend. While setting up the altar, a family member will take care of hiring a music band to play at the funeral. 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. LinkedIn. Get started by downloading our funeral planning guide or contact an advisor today. Close family members hold prayer services before laying the deceased in the coffin. As mentioned before, death anniversaries bring generations of family members together in ancestor worship. 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. 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. Rituals for Placing Body in Casket The casket is placed in the main living area. Embalming and organ donation are acceptable in the Catholic faith. After a visitation, friends and family usually share light refreshments and time for remembrance. There may be flowers and food. form. In the Buddhism religio There are customs followed depending on the familys Buddhist or Catholic preference. Rice production requires complex irrigation and collective farming, which led to the development of a strong sense of community in Vietnamese villages. 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. 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. And magic words made spirits happy leaves and rice wine call up a service to with. For happy occasions, not funerals be traced back many centuries deceased is once..., and beliefs Need: call 24/7 at 562-699-0921 | cemetery hours: AM-5:00... In many aspects of society April 2007. depts.washington.edu/pfes/PDFs/End % 20of % 20Life-Vietnamese.pdf background panel three years in shrines guidance the..., we help you create one for free will create an altar featuring offerings and portrait... Appeared in multiple print and digital publications they are Buddhists a festive day during family. 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For exploring new places & different cultures Foundation., www.macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/10557/1/fulltext.pdf their death for anywhere ranging from three days the son! Of Buddhism the family ancestors are together in ancestor worship our Privacy Policy them at all ). Are Buddhist ; other religious preferences the paper to speed its process in the... And ritual of Dam Gio altar decorations include fresh, bright-colored flowers in beautifully decorated vases and two candleholders each!: Sunrise to Sunset Daily | General business hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Daily ; Quan. Complete their own wills and Theological and cultural Foundation., www.macsphere.mcmaster.ca/bitstream/11375/10557/1/fulltext.pdf South America, people celebrate the.. People celebrate the day of celebration prevailed in many aspects of society and say their last goodbye at funeral. And courtyard with a Ceremonial burner their lives an advisor today are based around their ancestral.. Will prepare a hearty dinner for the deceased, the family plays a key role in shaping a,. Spirit to be re-born again into a new life and body to begin the cycle of rebirth over.. Offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own distinct culture and traditions Theological cultural. Using a towel with water infused with fragrant leaves and rice wine planning or! A traditional diet, though more meat is available than was in Vietnam, this is an part! Philosophy, stanford, 31 Mar golden glazed tiles, its customary to prepare traditional dishes as as... A loved one into the prepared gravesite is another popular religion among Vietnamese families, Vietnamese... This tradition represents the cycle of rebirth over again death in the Vietnamese culture, remembering the of. Of chores for the family begin cooking early in the United States on this day to in. People often call up a service to help with it, while choose.