Definition

Noun: - A collective term referring to death anniversaries and related ceremonies for worshipping ancestors. It encompasses the rituals, ceremonies, and remembrance activities held on the yearly anniversary of a deceased family member's passing.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Dịp giỗ chạp, con cháu trong dòng họ đều tụ tập đông đủ. (During the death anniversary period, all the descendants in the clan gather fully.)
  • Ông bà ta rất coi trọng việc giỗ chạp. (Our grandparents placed great importance on ancestor worship ceremonies.)
  • Công việc giỗ chạp trong năm đã được gia đình tôi lên kế hoạch cẩn thận. (The year's death anniversary ceremonies have been carefully planned by my family.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "giỗ chạp" is often used in a general, collective sense. When referring to a specific anniversary, Vietnamese typically uses "giỗ" followed by the person being commemorated (e.g., – grandfather's death anniversary).
• It implies a recurring cycle of ritual obligations within the family and underscores the continuity of familial piety.

Variants and Related Words

• Giỗ (n): A death anniversary; the specific ceremony for a particular deceased person.
  • Ngày mai là giỗ cụ cố tôi. (Tomorrow is my great-grandparent's death anniversary.)
• Cúng giỗ (v): To worship, to make offerings on a death anniversary.
  • Cả nhà cùng nhau cúng giỗ ông. (The whole family worships together on grandfather's death anniversary.)
• Ngày giỗ (n): The anniversary date of a death.
  • Ngày giỗ của bà được ghi chép trong gia phả. (Grandmother's death anniversary date is recorded in the family register.)

Synonyms

• Ancestral rites: Ceremonies performed in honor of ancestors.
• Commemorative ceremonies: Formal observances to remember and honor the dead.
• Death anniversary observances: The activities and rituals marking the yearly recurrence of a death.

Related Cultural Concepts

• Lễ Tết và giỗ chạp: A common phrase pairing major holidays () with death anniversaries, referring to all important traditional family gatherings throughout the year.
  • Anh ấy luôn về quê vào những dịp lễ Tết và giỗ chạp. (He always returns to his hometown for holidays and death anniversaries.)
• The practice of "giỗ chạp" is a cornerstone of Vietnamese ancestor veneration (), reflecting the cultural belief in the enduring connection between the living and the deceased.

1. Anniversaries and ancestor- worshipping days (nói khái quát)