Early Spring talk about family, ancestor worship

They are a group of people with the same bloodline from generation to generation, united in the community. They are the concept of an extended family. To some extent, they can also be likened to a miniature “state”. Therefore, if the clans are strong, they will contribute to building a strong village and the Fatherland.

The role and position of clans in society is very important. Therefore, more than ever, we need to do our best to preserve and promote it. After all, the development of clans is always closely linked to the development of the country. In recent years, the economy has been prosperous, people have the conditions to return to their roots. The movement of building ancestral tombs and worshiping ancestors is quite bustling.

Annual ancestral worship is a beautiful custom, satisfying the spiritual and cultural life. What we care most about is how to organize the ceremony in a way that is in line with national traditions and brings practical results, especially educating the sense of responsibility to ancestors, avoiding ostentation and waste.

We often say: family, family style... means the cultural discipline of a family or each clan. That discipline and order are not only shown on the day of ancestor worship but must be maintained regularly. The ancestor worship ceremony is optional, but the most important thing is the solemnity and respect, expressing the gratitude of descendants to their ancestors to turn from feelings into material strength, which is studying and working well. The ancestor worship day, in addition to the ritual, must be a day for descendants to promise before the ancestors' spirits to correct the shortcomings of the old year to make more progress in the new year. To do that, each clan needs its own clan rules for everyone in the clan to follow, considering it as the "law" of their clan. Since it is a clan rule, there must be strict rewards and punishments, only then will the ancestor worship ceremony have vitality.

In recent years, many clans have honored and rewarded their descendants who have done well in their studies and work, and resolved disagreements within the clan. However, there are still many clans that worship their ancestors in a formal way, and even quarrel with each other on the day of worshiping their ancestors, causing disunity. This is “more harmful than beneficial”, and our ancestors would not be happy at all.

The time to worship ancestors usually takes place after Tet, in January. Because this is spring, the time when farming is idle, children and grandchildren have the opportunity to gather together.

To guide clans to operate effectively, it is thought that the Department of Culture, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and authorities at all levels should annually organize meetings of clan leaders to commend exemplary clans, guide clans to write genealogies, clan rules and some other contents related to society.

Khanh Chi