Prayer text for the lễ ăn hỏi (betrothal ceremony) (praying to the ancestors at the bride's house)

Lễ ăn hỏi (betrothal ceremony). An auspicious day chosen by the two families, after the lễ chạm ngõ (meeting ceremony) and before the wedding ceremony

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Folk practice
  • Address to the ancestors

Culture and belief A record of custom.

What this prayer says

Prayer text to the ancestors at the lễ ăn hỏi (betrothal ceremony) at the bride's house, reverently addressing the Buddhas, the deities, Thổ Công (Earth God of the house), Thổ Địa (Earth God), Táo quân (Kitchen Gods) and the ancestors of both families, reporting the acceptance of the offerings and the betel leaves and areca nuts from the groom's family to promise the marriage of their daughter, asking the ancestors to witness and bless the two young people to become husband and wife, to live in harmony and happiness, and to grow old together. It is recited before the altar after receiving the offering trays and placing part of the offerings on the altar.

The prayer below is kept in Vietnamese, the language it is read aloud in during the rite.

Fill in before the rite

Your name and address appear in the prayer below and are kept on this device only.

Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

4 more blanks

Lines that depend on the occasion

  • lễ vấn danh (hoặc lễ ăn hỏi): Read according to the ceremony being performed: vấn danh or ăn hỏi.

Offerings and how the rite is done

Offerings, steps and things to avoid for Lễ ăn hỏi (betrothal ceremony)

Other texts for Lễ ăn hỏi (betrothal ceremony)

The wording is kept exactly as published by the source. The dotted italic words are blanks for you to fill in.

Sources

  • Văn khấn lễ ăn hỏi (voh.com.vn)

Part of the open dataset Vietnamese offering prayers (văn cúng), licensed CC BY 4.0.

More prayer textsDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, life-cycle rites and regional rites.