Ancestor worshipis traditional characteristics of Vietnam culture

Ancestor worship is a long-standing tradition in Vietnam, which is also a manifestation of filial piety, gracefulness for ancestors’ bring-up, respecting their origins. Therefore, it can be said that the ancestor worship is a cultural beauty of the Vietnamese.

Ancestor worship is the whole form of ritual, worship to express the heart of honor, grateful to the ancestors, grandparents, parents who had born and built posterity’s living

For a long time, worshiping ancestors has become a custom, a moral norm and a human principle, and an important part of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese. Just a scent on the ancestors' altar on the holidays, Tet or the anniversary of death is good enough to express the respect, gracefulness to ancestors

Ancestral altars are usually put in the most formal place in the house. There comes the joss-stick bowl in the heart of the altar symbolizing the universe. At the two outer corners of the altar there are two lamps (or candles) representing the Sun on the left and the Moon on the right. Whenever worshiped, the owner will light the candles.

Right after the joss-stick bowl, there is a three-legged apex, with a cap topped with a conical shape that means superiority controlling the spirit of the descendants standing in front of the altar.

In festivals, or important family occasions such as wedding day, examinations, or the birth of a child, families usually kowtow and pray under one's breath to ancestorsfor good luck. It can be said that every event in the family is reported their ancestors via incensing. In fact, ancestor worship is also the adhesive that binds the Vietnamese together, connecting family members.

In addition to the anniversary of their close ancestors, the Vietnamese have their descent death anniversary. 

The altar direction is also very important to Vietnamese. Normally, the southern direction of Buddhism is the direction of wisdom, creativity, the fullness of vitality. Besides, there are also many put the altar western because the concept of this direction in accordance with the treatment of yin and yang that make it peaceful as well as developed for the comfort of gods, ancestors’ souls

Although centurieshave passed, the way Vietnamese worshiping the ancestors has changed in some aspects but the biggest meaning remains the same. The Vietnamese consider ancestor worship to be one of the principles of human morality. This is the form of showing filial piety of children towards their parents who give birth, feed them, and educate them.

Tet is an important time of the year so the altar of Tet is also special. The decoration of the altar depends on the each family’s condition but definitely the family should display five fruit tray. Usually five fruits of five kinds of fruits have 5 different colors such as green banana, yellow grapefruit, red Japanese persimmon, white pear, orange mandarin represents the wishes: wealthy, luxury, long-lived, health and peace

The peach flower branch ison the shrine with all the power rejectingall devils and badness, red color itself contains a great vital force. So the peach blossom is prayer and spring blessing. The sugar cane is placed on the side of the altar with the intention of letting the ancestors leaning while visiting the descendants.

At the watch-night time, the whole family respectfully stood in front of the ancestors' altar burning incense, praying for a new year full of health, peace and good luck.

To experience the authentic Tet atmosphere, people can go with the tour Celebrating Tet in Vietnam with Vietnam Impressive that may bring you a cozy and traditional Tet holidays with Vietnamese families.

shrine for buddisme in temple/pagoda in Vietnam