Ancestor table at Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant, 14 Chả Cá, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam.
Ancestor table at Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant, 14 Chả Cá, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam.

Some people consider this a religion in itself, but whatever religion is believed; almost every house has an ancestral altar. This is based on belief that after death a soul lives on to protect its descendants, so utmost respect must be given.

This table/altar is attended to regularly with fresh flowers, fruits, cups of wine, water etc and will also contain photographs of the deceased (often the photos are when the person was young). Countless generations of Vietnamese hold important ceremonies to worship their ancestors and deceased relatives as part of their spiritual lifestyle.

Offering at chùa Thần Quang Buddhist Temple, 44, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam.
Offering at chùa Thần Quang Buddhist Temple, 44, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam.

These are held at ‘Tet’ festival (Lunar New Year) and other special festivals, the death anniversary dates and the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month.

This offering table is to honor the anniversary of a young person's death. It is not so formal and has flowers, fruit, food, snacks, rice, candles and incense burning, alcohol, cigarettes, lighter, sweets and the votive hat is one with a Nike sticker on it, Hanoi, Vietam
This offering table is to honor the anniversary of a young person’s death. It is not so formal and has flowers, fruit, food, snacks, rice, candles and incense burning, alcohol, cigarettes, lighter, sweets and the votive hat is one with a Nike sticker on it.
Worshiping deceased loved ones on their anniversary of their death or the 1st or 15th of the Lunar month (not the western calendar) is normal practice.
Worshiping deceased loved ones on their anniversary of their death or the 1st or 15th of the Lunar month (not the western calendar) is normal practice.

At these times it is important to prepare special food to give as an offering, burn joss sticks and pray to the deceased, also the burning paper items (votive’s), to send to the dead.

 

 

Votive's - paper items that you burn to send to your deceased loved ones to use in the afterlife !
Votive’s – paper items that you burn to send to your deceased loved ones to use in the afterlife !
Burning votives - paper items to send to the deceased.
Burning votive’s – paper items to send to the deceased.