You may have noticed a significant absence over the past 10 months. Most notably I left you hanging on our amazing trip to Vietnam.
I was working on a very important project that pretty much kept me out of the kitchen. Yesterday we celebrated the Đầy Tháng, or First/Full Month of our daughter, born late July. We are so over the moon, and I’m getting back in the kitchen.
But first, a little bit about this beautiful first month rite, as I’ve come to understand. Celebrating a baby’s first full month stems from traditional Vietnam where infant mortality was unfortunately quite common. It was considered back luck in inviting negative spirits if you named a baby before they made it to this important milestone. So traditionally, we would not have named our daughter until this event when our extended family would have come to meet her for the first time and share blessings for her future.
We set the table with sweet offerings and prepared incense to say prayers and thank the higher being for creating such a perfect life in our daughter. Even my parents shared in this, which was very special for me.
The second part involved moving a flower over her mouth and stating our wishes for her future. My mother in law explained the significance as imparting the wishes to her and giving her the ability to clearly communicate such wishes for a successful future.
Her grandmother, or Ba Ngoai, went first — which reminds me I need to ask what she said!
Then I shared my wishes for our daughter, using a new flower.
Followed by my mother, who enjoyed being a part of the ceremony!
Once the incense burns down and offerings are made, it’s time to eat!
