Worship of Ancestor
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Vietnamese believes that the soul of a dead person, even if dead for many generations, still rests along with their descendants on earth. The dead and living persons still have spiritual communion. Vietnamese also believes that the soul of their ancestors can go to the another life, but they still worship because it is the thing they must do to remember the ancestors created them. In every household, an ancestor altar is installed in the most solemn location.
On the last day of every lunar year, a ceremony is performed to invite the dead forefathers to return home to celebrate Tet holidays with their families. During the last days before Tet, all family members visit their ancestors’ graves; they clean and decorate the graves, in the same manner that the livings clean and decorate their houses to welcome the New Year.
On the anniversary of an ancestor’s death, descendants and relatives unite and prepare a feast to worship the dead people and to ask for health and happiness for themselves. From generation to generation, ancestor worshipping customs have been religiously preserved. There are some small variations between those customs among the many Vietnamese ethnic groups, but the common theme of fidelity and gratitude towards the ancestors remains.
Tags:
Culture
,
Tradition
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