Monday, February 11, 2008

Traditional Buddhist/Vietnamese 1st Birthday Ceremony for Price


My mom has performed this Buddhist ceremony for all of my children on or near their first birthdays. She does it out of the great love that she has for her grandchildren. This was done back in January, but I am just now getting around to posting it.


First he sets a beautiful table with food as an offering to Buddha and her anscestors and prays that they will watch over the child.
On the table is sweet rice(orange), rice & beans, a whole chicken, and some fruit. There are also flowers, small water cups, and incense. The smoke from the incense represent the prayers rising up to heaven.(I think.)

Then Price got to choose from the items on this tray. Each item represents something about his future.
Money-Wealth
Book-Intelligence
Mirror-Vanity
Comb-Well groomed
Pen-Writing skills
Rice ball-Prosperity
(I think.)
And Price will be...
A good looking writer!

5 comments:

JaNae said...

Leslie! So glad to hear from you on the blog. I post at the end of the day because that is what I love to do...it makes me feel good. I've committed to Geoff to limit myself to only 15 minutes each night so I don't get carried away. But I'm amazed how I go on through my day differently now because of this tradition...I find more JOY in it. It's been so good for me.

I LOVE this 1st year tradition your mom does for you...I want to do it too! Max just turned one, so I think I'll see what he ends up choosing. What a FUN thing!!!! Ps. you'll do well with a handsome writer!

JaNae said...

Do you eat all this beautiful food?

Delise said...

Great tradition! So neat that your Mom shares that cultural heritage with your boys!

Becky Mutter said...

That is so neat! What a nice tradition. I'm glad you explained that the orange balls are rice because I thought it was a big heaping bowl of shredded carrots and it seemed like a LOT of carrot. ;o)

Becky Mutter said...

That is so neat! What a nice tradition. I'm glad you explained that the orange balls are rice because I thought it was a big heaping bowl of shredded carrots and it seemed like a LOT of carrot. ;o)