During the ancestral worship season, as the saying goes... we return to our hometowns.

BAC NINH - The ancestral worship ceremony is a long-standing tradition of the Vietnamese people, usually taking place in the twelfth lunar month (December). It's an occasion for descendants of the family to gather in their hometown, reconnecting with their roots. For those living far from home, the ancestral worship ceremony is also a return to their origins, to family ties...

Respect bloodlines, preserve family traditions.

Typically, the ancestral worship day is chosen by clans at the end of the twelfth lunar month, close to Tet (Lunar New Year). Regardless of the chosen date, when the time comes, descendants living in their hometown or working far away always try to arrange their schedules to return home to pay respects to their ancestors. Siblings and descendants meet with handshakes and smiles, greetings and the recognition of each other after a long separation... creating a unique atmosphere of reunion on ancestral worship day.

Generations of descendants of the Nguyen Quy family organize a ceremony to offer incense and pay tribute to their ancestors on the family's ancestral commemoration day.

Within that tradition, the Nguyen Quy family of Guot village (now Guot residential area, Que Vo ward) is a prime example of a family tradition that has been preserved persistently through many generations. Originally a large family, long-established in the Dung Quyet area, Vu Duong commune, Que Duong district in the past, the Nguyen Quy family not only has a rich history but also leaves a deep mark in historical records. From the late Le dynasty, a branch of the Nguyen Quy family from Guot village moved to Phu Chan village (Dong Ngan, now part of Tu Son ward). Later, Mr. Nguyen Phuc Tam moved to live in Thien Mo village, now Dai Mo ( Hanoi ). From there, the Nguyen Quy branch in Dai Mo flourished, becoming one of the families with many generations holding high official positions, making significant contributions to the development of the country...

Most notably, the family of the renowned Nguyen Quy Duc had three consecutive generations who achieved high academic honors, becoming pillars of the court and all were posthumously bestowed the titles of Great King and Blessed Deity. These included the Thám hoa (Third-ranked scholar) and Prime Minister, Duke of Liem, Nguyen Quy Duc (1648-1720), his eldest son, the National Master and Great King, Nguyen Quy An (1673-1722), and his grandson, the National Master and Great King, Nguyen Quy Kinh (1693-1766). Three consecutive generations of these talented individuals left behind a great spiritual legacy of character, intellect, and unwavering loyalty to the king and patriotism.

Proud to be a descendant of a family with two generations of Prime Ministers and three generations of Great Kings, Mr. Nguyen Quy Trang, the 37th generation of the Nguyen Quy family in Guot village, shared: "The three Great Kings of the Nguyen Quy family dedicated their entire lives to the people and the country, leaving behind a noble legacy, recorded in history and honored by posterity. This glorious reputation is not only a source of pride but also a reminder for descendants to live up to the traditions of their ancestors. Therefore, the family erected a stele to commemorate the merits of our ancestors so that future generations will remember and follow their example."

Mr. Nguyen Quy Thong, 79 years old, the 37th generation of the Nguyen Quy family in Guot village, shared: "As of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake (2015), the main branch of the Nguyen Quy family in Guot village has a total of 306 male descendants (not including branches in other localities). Every year, on the 5th day of the 12th lunar month, descendants from various branches in Phu Chan (Tu Son), Dai Mo, and Ngoc Than (Hanoi) gather in large numbers in their ancestral village of Guot to offer incense, perform rituals, and express gratitude to their ancestors. On this day, families in the clan who have a son also prepare offerings of incense and flowers to perform the 'entering the family' ceremony, reporting to their ancestors about the continuation of the family lineage... These seemingly simple rituals carry profound meaning, helping generations of descendants understand their place in the family."

Strengthening family bonds

In the rituals of the ancestral worship day, cleaning and tidying the ancestral graves is considered the most important task. According to Vietnamese belief, only when the ancestral graves are well-maintained and in good condition can the descendants feel at peace. Many young people, despite their busy schedules, try to arrange to return to their hometowns to visit the graves. Adults clear weeds, add soil, and whitewash each grave, while children are tasked with lighting incense at surrounding graves, whether familiar or unfamiliar. Afterwards, the descendants respectfully light incense sticks and pray for their ancestors' blessings, wishing for family peace, successful education for their children, prosperity in business, and smooth sailing in all endeavors. This participation in grave cleaning sows the first seeds of a sense of ancestral roots in the hearts of the children.

After completing the ancestral tomb visitation, everyone returns to continue the rituals, offering incense to express gratitude to their ancestors at the family's ancestral temple. Standing before the ancestral altar, each person feels the sacred meaning of blood relations, deeply understanding the saying "blood is thicker than water." Following the ceremony is a reunion meal where everyone shares joys and sorrows, strengthening family bonds. Thanks to these ancestral tomb visits, descendants learn the locations of their ancestors' graves, and relatives near and far have the opportunity to meet, preventing time and distance from fading the bonds of kinship. And thanks to this, the family traditions and customs of the lineage are passed down through the years.

Family reunions are also an opportunity for generations within a clan to reminisce about traditions and remind each other of their responsibilities to family and society. Mr. Nguyen Quy Tan, Secretary of the Guot residential group's Party branch, shared: "During family reunions, the older generation advises their descendants to study hard, work diligently, strictly abide by the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws, and live up to the traditions of their ancestors. Stories about studies, work, joys, sorrows, and family events are also shared in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Plans for the new year are also discussed and agreed upon."

For many people in Kinh Bac - Bac Ninh , memories of ancestral worship ceremonies are intertwined with images of joining grandparents, uncles, and aunts in the year-end grave-visiting procession; with whispered stories at the graves about the lives, backgrounds, and destinies of the deceased. These seemingly trivial, rambling stories are the thread that extends tradition, connecting the living and the dead, linking the past and the present. People often say that before knowing who you are, you must know where you come from. Ancestral worship ceremonies, therefore, are not just a year-end ritual, but also a return to one's roots, a return to blood ties. Amidst the solemn, sacred atmosphere, in the swirling incense smoke, each person finds a profound connection with their ancestors, family, and homeland, thus becoming more steadfast on their journey towards the future.

Thanh Lam

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/mua-chap-ho-den-hen-lai-ve-que-postid439348.bbg