Cúng Mụ đầy cữ, đầy tháng (offering to the Midwife Goddesses on the third-day and first-month ceremonies)

Used across Vietnam, Folk practice

When

Đầy cữ (the baby is 3 days old), đầy tháng, đầy năm; the đầy tháng ceremony is usually held in the morning

Where the offerings are set

A hương án (incense table) or a table placed in front of the ancestors' altar; some households place it in the living room or in the yard

Who makes the offering

The baby's father or mother, grandparents

Offerings

Steps

1. Arranging the offerings: the portion for Bà Mụ Chúa (the chief Midwife Goddess) is placed in the center above, and the 12 portions for the 12 Bà Mụ (Midwife Goddesses) are arranged in two rows; hoatieu.vn describes two tables, a small table above for offering to Đức Ông (the Lord), and a large table below for offering to the 12 Bà Mụ
2. The father or mother lights three incense sticks, holds the baby in front of the altar, and reads the prayer text
3. After the prayer, the baby's hands are clasped to bow three times
4. The khai hoa (bắt miếng) ritual: holding the baby, passing a flower branch back and forth in front of the baby's mouth and reciting wishes
5. Some households ask for a divination to name the baby: presenting the chosen name, tossing two coins, one heads and one tails means agreement
6. After three incense sticks have burned, a thank-offering is made, votive paper, clothes, and robes are burned, wine is sprinkled during the burning; the whole family partakes of the offerings

Where the sources differ

• Differences among sources on how to calculate the full-month day: docungtamlinh.com.vn lists three methods in use: 'girls subtract 2, boys subtract 1', 'male add, female subtract' (add 1 for male, subtract 1 for female), and counting the full month by the lunar calendar; vankhan.vn only says the baby has been born for one month
• Those offered to along with the 12 Bà Mụ: vankhan.vn notes Bà Mụ Chúa; docungtamlinh.com.vn notes the 12 Bà Mụ and 3 Đức Ông; hoatieu.vn notes Đức Ông and 3 Đức Thầy (thánh sư, tổ sư, tiên sư), specifying not 13 Đức Thầy

Northern Vietnam, Folk practice

When

Calculated by the lunar calendar, many households follow the way 'girls subtract two, boys subtract one'; performed in the morning

Offerings

Steps

1. Offering to the Midwife Goddesses, praying as in other regions
2. Performing the khai hoa ritual, sending wishes for the baby

Central Vietnam, Folk practice

When

Calculated by the saying 'girls subtract 2, boys subtract 1'; some places calculate 'male add 2, female subtract 1'

Offerings

Steps

1. Use two tables: a small table in front for offering to Đức Ông, a large table behind for offering to the 12 bà Mụ and bà Chúa
2. The vase of flowers is placed to the east, the fruit tray to the west ('flowers east, fruit west')
3. Light incense and lamps, read the prayer text, and when the offering is finished scatter the salt and rice
4. Give the baby a lì xì (lucky money envelope)

Huế, Huế, Folk practice

Offerings

Mekong Delta, Folk practice

When

In the morning

Where the offerings are set

In the main room of the house

Who makes the offering

The head of the household, usually the baby's father

Offerings

Steps

1. Arrange the tray in the main room; the head of the household offers incense at the ancestors' altar first, then goes to the main tray to pray to the bà Mụ
2. Read the prayer text, stating the baby's name and age
3. Carry the baby out to introduce the name to relatives, perform the bắt miếng (first-taste) ritual, and guests give blessings
4. Take a little of each dish and offer it on the altar of the deities and the ancestors
5. Hosting a feast for relatives and neighbours; the household eats last

Things to avoid

• Avoiding offering bananas, because the name evokes the word 'chúi nhủi'

Where the sources differ

• The sweet dish: docungtamlinh.com.vn notes that the West usually uses only chè trôi nước (floating rice-ball sweet soup); hoatieu.vn notes that southerners often offer chè đậu nước dừa (mung bean sweet soup with coconut milk) and xôi gấc (steamed sticky rice with gấc)

Used across Vietnam, Buddhist

When

The day the baby is brought home and the đầy tháng (first-month ceremony) day

Offerings

Steps

1. 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)
2. 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
3. According to the Q&A article of phatgiao.org.vn: 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

Things to avoid

• Do not kill animals to prepare the feast
• Do not set out elaborate decorations