Ceremony to welcome a newborn home
Also called: Trình gia tiên khi đón bé về, Lễ đón bé từ viện về
- Life-cycle rites
Culture and belief A record of custom.
By custom, when welcoming a newborn home, the parents burn incense to report to the deities and the ancestors that the family has a new member, and pray for the baby to eat well and grow quickly. The ceremony is simpler than the đầy tháng (first-month ceremony) and not every household performs it.
At a glance
- When it is held
- The day the baby is brought home from the place of birth
- For whom
- The household deities (Thổ Công (Earth God of the house), Táo quân (Kitchen Gods), Thành hoàng (village tutelary deity) of the locality) and the ancestors; households that follow Buddhism also report to the Buddha
- Where
- Ancestor altar
- Who makes the offering
- The baby's parents
Each family and each region may do it differently.
The offering tray
Folk practice
- When
- The day the baby is brought home from the place of birth; some households choose an auspicious date and hour
| Offering | Vegetarian or not | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||
| Fresh flowers, a tray of five fruits | Vegetarian | Some guides note the offering tray for this day is not mandatory, and is much simpler than the full đầy tháng (first-month ceremony) tray |
| Incense, lamps, candles | ||
| Incense, lamps or candles | Optional | |
| Betel leaves and areca nuts | ||
| Betel leaves and areca nuts | Vegetarian | Optional |
| Xôi (steamed sticky rice) and cakes | ||
| Xôi (steamed sticky rice), chè (sweet soup) | Vegetarian | Optional. Offered to the Bà Mụ (Midwife Goddesses) and the ancestors |
| Tea, rice wine, water | ||
| Clean water, tea or wine | Vegetarian | Optional |
| Votive paper | ||
| Votive paper money | Optional. By local custom | |
Buddhist
- When
- The day the baby is brought home and the đầy tháng (first-month ceremony) day
| Offering | Vegetarian or not | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian dishes | ||
| Pure food offerings | Vegetarian | The prayer text in Buddhist guidance advises not to offer food that one has killed oneself or urged others to kill |
| Votive paper | ||
| The offering to the Bà Mụ (Midwife Goddesses) by custom: 12 pairs of tiny shoes, 12 pieces of betel, cakes and fruits in the full number of 12 | Vegetarian | Optional. Buddhist guidance notes that this is a folk custom, and Buddhists may still perform it |
Steps of the rite
Used across Vietnam, Folk practice
- Ask a person with a lucky hand and a light spirit to carry the baby into the house for the first time
- Some households warm bồ kết (soap pod) and burn a little charcoal in front of the door before bringing the baby in
- Set out the offerings, the parents burn incense and read the prayer text to report to the ancestors and deities that there is a new member
- Some households put a dot of son (vermilion) or pot soot on the baby's forehead, and hang garlic or a mulberry branch where the baby lies
Used across Vietnam, Buddhist
- According to Buddhist guidance, choose one of two ways: only read the prayer text, or perform the full ritual with sutra chanting
- The ritual with sutra chanting: nguyện hương (incense offering), prayer text, lễ tán Phật (praise of the Buddha), tán Pháp (praise of the Dharma), chanting the Kinh Ngày Lành Tháng Tốt (Sutra of Auspicious Days and Months), cúng thực (offering of food), phục nguyện (renewing the vow), hồi hướng (dedication of merit), tam tự quy (taking the three refuges)
- If one has prepared offerings for thí thực (food offering to wandering spirits) or phóng sinh (releasing living beings), report that part as well, then report the conclusion of the ceremony
- According to Buddhist guidance: on the occasion of childbirth, đầy tháng (first-month ceremony), thôi nôi (first-birthday ceremony), one should chant the Kinh Địa Tạng (Earth Store Sutra), make offerings, release living beings, and do good deeds to dedicate the merit to the child
What is avoided
Used across Vietnam, Folk practice
- In folk belief, avoid bringing the baby home at midday and in the evening
- A person in mourning should avoid visiting the baby during the first month
- Avoid praising the baby too much
Used across Vietnam, Buddhist
- Do not kill animals to prepare the feast
- Do not set out elaborate decorations
Communities and regions
Sources
- Hướng dẫn thủ tục, văn khấn đón trẻ sơ sinh về nhà (docungtamlinh.com.vn)
- Làm thế nào để trẻ mới sinh được bình an? (phatgiao.org.vn)
Part of the open datasets Types of Vietnamese offering rites and Vietnamese offering procedures, licensed CC BY 4.0.
More ritesDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, the life cycle, village and ethnic rites.Open