March 16, 2013

The Mekong River: Calling into Question the Germ Theory of Disease

By Clarice Feldman
On our  journey along cost of the South China Sea, it's now the first day of Tet. About a week earlier, families made their offerings to the Kitchen God asking for a good report to the Heavenly Emperor. The message is to be delivered by a giant carp which transforms itself into a dragon on the way to heaven, Almost 80% of Vietnamese practice ancestor worship and make regular offerings to their ancestors at family shrines in the middle of their homes. (On sampans and junks where space is more limited, the altar is usually in one corner of the small living quarters.) Also before the start of Tet, Vietnamese visit the graves of their ancestors to invite them to the New Year's celebrations. On the first day of Tet offerings of food are made and paper money, paper cars, boats and planes are burned so that the ancestors have means and money for the journey and can travel home in style for the holiday.  Husbands and wives traditionally spend this day visiting their parents and...(Read Full Article)