Preserving Vietnamese Culture and Language in Southern Louisiana: Altars as Symbols of Identity By Emma Tomingas-Hatch Maintaining Community as Newcomers: The Importance of Language and Religion Jade: A Cultural Symbol Altars: Public and Private, Catholic and Buddhist Buddhist Home Altars and Ancestor Altars Altars in Businesses Catholic Home Altars / Conclusion   Altars: Public and Private, Catholic and Buddhist Individuals also work to keep their culture alive through the use of public and private religious observances, specifically, public and private altars. This tradition is prevalent in both the Vietnamese Catholic and Buddhist practices. Both religions traditionally have a main altar in their worship center. They also have traditions of maintaining home altars. The Vietnamese, both Catholic and Buddhist, have two kinds of home altars: one is dedicated to general worship and the other is specifically dedicated to their ancestors. Thay Dao Quang, the Buddhist monk at Tam Bao Temple, believes that the use of home ancestor altars stem from the tradition of Confucianism. Confucianism was widespread in China until 1912; because of Vietnam's proximity to China they share a lot of similar traditions. One common Confucian practice is ancestor worship, which can still be seen in the culture today. The main altar at Tam Bao Temple in Baton Rouge, built in the Zen tradition in 2009. Photo: Emma Tomingas-Hatch.   In front of the new Tam Bao Temple is a small altar to Baby Buddha. Decorated with a young Buddha statue, incense, and floating lotus blossoms, it is used during Buddha's Birthday and for the dedication of the new temple. Photo: Maida Owens.   The former main altar at Tam Bao Temple was in the traditional Vietnamese style that includes more statues. Photo: Maida Owens.   In front of Tam Bao Temple is a statue of Quan Âm, the Bodhisattva of compassion, better known in the United States by her Chinese name, Kwan Yin. The altar provides a place for people to burn incense and leave food offerings such as the citrus here. Photo: Maida Owens.   Altar for the crematorium at Tam Bao Temple, Baton Rouge. Photo: Maida Owens.   The main altar at VN Hall in Abbeville, Louisiana, built especially for a Catholic retreat. Photo: Emma Tomingas-Hatch.   St. Anthony Catholic Church serves the Vietnamese community in Baton Rouge. Le Van Phung Parish offers services in Vietnamese. Photo: Nam Phamh, Courtesy of St. Anthony Catholic Church.   The St. Francis Chapel at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Baton Rouge includes this Vietnamese statue of the Blessed Mother adorned with bamboo. Photo: Maida Owens.   Mary Queen of Vietnam shrine in Larose, Louisiana. Photo: Maida Owens.   Next - Buddhist Home Altars and Ancestor Altars Emma Tomingas-Hatch, an independent researcher in Lafayette, Louisiana, received her Masters degree in Folklore from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This article was prepared as part of the New Populations Project in 2009. For more essays on the Vietnamese in Louisiana, see Offerings to Kings and Buddha: Vietnamese Ritual Activities at Chua Bo De: The Vietnamese Buddhist Community in New Orleans Area and Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, in the New Orleans Vietnamese Community.

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