Longevitywishing ceremony is to wish an elderly person longevity. That is aVietnamese custom, when their grandparents or parents reach the oldage, children show their profound gratitude to them by celebrating aceremony to wish them good health and long life.

Duringthe Tran Dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries, the 40 year oldemperor gave up his throne to his son to become a Buddhist monk.According to village customs, a man of 50 is to be honored as an oldman. Old men stop working and are no longer village officials; however,they are still invited to festivals and to sears in the communal house.Here, they are seated honorably on red-bordered mats.

Showingrespect and esteem for the elderly is a tradition that remains today.Nowadays, when grandparents or parents reach the ages of 70, 80 or 90,their children and grandchild organize ceremonies for longevity whichare generally held on birthdays or during the spring days during Tet.The celebration day depends on each local: on the first lunar January or on 15 lunar January, commonly happens in early spring festival. Longevity ceremony is considered to be a traditional formal ceremony, featuring cultural background based on the fathers’ customs.

Suchcelebrations are occasions to show devotion and respect to grandparentsand parents. Celebrations for longevity, either large or small,manifest the family’s joy in having a relative who has been able tolead a long life. Today, in almost every village or urban district,there is an association of longevity for the elderly. When reaching theages of 70 or 80, the old are offered red dresses and other gifts andare invited to be photographed.