Formerly funeral ceremonies went as following: the body was washed and dressed; then a le ngam ham, or chopstick, was laid between the teeth and a pinch of rice and 3 coins were the earth, one must return back to the world. ” The dead body was enveloped with white cloth, le kham liem, and place into the coffin, le nhap quan. Finally, the funeral ceremony, le thanh phuc, was officially performed.

The deceased person’s sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law had to wear coarse gauze turbans and tunics, and hats made from straw or of dry banana fiber. The deceased person’s grandchildren and relatives also had to wear mourning turbans. During the days when the dead were still laid out at home, the mourning went on with worshipping meals and mourning music. Relatives, neighbours, and friends came to supply their condolences.

The date and time for the funeral procession, le dua tang, should be rigorously chosen. Relatives, friends, and descendants participate in the funeral procession to accompany the dead along the thanks to the burial ground. Votive papers were dropped along the manner. At the grave web site, the coffin is buried and coated. When 3 days of mourning, the family visits the tomb again, le mo cua ma or worship the opening the grave; after forty nine days, le chung that, the family stops bringing rice for the dead to the altar. And at last, when a hundred days, the family celebrates tot khoc, or the top of the tears. When one year is that the ceremony of the primary anniversary of the relative’s death and after 2 years is that the ceremony of the end of mourning.

At present, mourning ceremonies follow new rituals which are simplified; they consist of covering and putting the dead body into the coffin, the funeral procession, the burial of the coffin into the grave, and the visits to the tomb. The deceased person’s family members wear a white turban or a black mourning band.

Source:vietnamtourism

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