Why do Vietnamese have altars?

Altars – Voyage to Vietnam. Nearly every home, office, and business in Vietnam has a small altar to honor ancestors. The altar usually includes an incense burner, at least one vase for flowers, a small oil lamp, and a place to make offerings of food, sweet treats and tea.

What do the Vietnamese believe about their dead ancestors?

Hanoi (VNA) – Ancestor worship, an ancient Vietnamese tradition, is a ritual practice paying tribute to deceased family members and reminding people of their roots. Accordingly, children are obliged to respect their parents in life and to remember them after they die.

Do Vietnamese throw shoes?

As a rule of thumb, Vietnamese people always take off their footwear when they come home or enter others’ houses. Bringing shoes into a local house in Vietnam is, therefore, a taboo to some people, just like bringing dirty things, bringing bad luck into the home.

What is the purpose of altars?

An altar is a raised area in a house of worship where people can honor God with offerings. It is prominent in the Bible as “God’s table,” a sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered up to God.

Why do Vietnamese wear white headbands at funerals?

Close family members wear white or yellow headbands to signal their close ties to the deceased. It’s a way to show respect and mourn their loved one.

What do Vietnamese believe after death?

Many Vietnamese people believe the souls of their loved ones live on after death and that having a funeral is an important step toward entering the afterlife. If the proper actions aren’t taken, it is believed that the person’s ghost will remain on earth and possibly even cause harm to the family.

What is disrespectful Vietnam?

Common taboos in Vietnam Avoid hugging, holding hands, and especially kissing in public. Even touching a member of the opposite sex is looked down upon. No Pointing: If you need to draw attention to something, use your whole hand. Do not point using one finger, that is considered disrespectful.

What does the Bible say about an altar?

The Altar and its utensils were considered to be sacred, and the priests had to vest and wash their hands before touching them—even so much as removing the ashes from the altar. According to the Bible, the fire on the altar was lit directly by the hand of God and was not permitted to go out (Leviticus 6:12–13).

What is the purpose of a Vietnamese altar?

Altars Nearly every home, office, and business in Vietnam has a small altar to honor ancestors. The altar usually includes an incense burner, at least one vase for flowers, a small oil lamp, and a place to make offerings of food, sweet treats and tea. The altar is always given a special place in the household.

How do Vietnamese honor their ancestors?

Nearly every home, office, and business in Vietnam has a small altar to honor ancestors. The altar usually includes an incense burner, at least one vase for flowers, a small oil lamp, and a place to make offerings of food, sweet treats and tea.

What is Vietnamese ancestor worship?

Ancestor worship is a cornerstone of Vietnamese life. As evidence, nearly every Vietnamese home has a family altar, where the household venerates and honors its ancestors. But not all Vietnamese ancestral altars look the same.

What do the flowers on a family altar mean?

The flowers typically represent luck or prosperity according to their color. The most common colors used for altar flowers are red and yellow. As mentioned, red represents luck and good fortune. Yellow or gold symbolizes happiness and prosperity. The family altar might also feature lotus flowers, which are the national flower of Vietnam.