Millennial Asians and people of Asian descent are recapturing their roots by reviving and reinterpreting ancient rituals. They link a rich cultural heritage with modern life, preserving wonderful and meaningful traditions.

In the United States and other Western countries, the millennial Asian diaspora is reviving ancient traditions and rituals that have been lost through the years due to factors like colonialism and assimilation. Asians in their homelands also share ancient rituals through modern channels, like social media. The desire to embrace traditions and honor ancestors makes staying connected to the past a way to manage the present successfully.

Celebrating Ancestors and Honoring the Spirits

Each Asian community has its own methods and traditions for honoring ancestors. For example, in April, members of the Chinese American community celebrate the Qingming Festival. Also known as the Pure Brightness Festival, it is a time to pay respect to ancestors and welcome spring. This is a fascinating festival that is sad and happy at the same time. Family members visit relatives’ gravesites to perform a ritual grave sweeping and make offerings of food, joss paper, and incense. They also spend time sharing stories about their ancestors.

If lucky, an Asian American festival will offer a demonstration of a Japanese matcha ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony, known as chado or chanoyu, is an ancient tradition now being revived in its authentic form. The Americanization of the tea ceremony meant that many traditional rituals were not employed. A Japanese tea ceremony requires that every detail and movement create a sensory experience. Influenced by Zen Buddhism, chado is about harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

The Indian diaspora, now over five million strong in the United States, is reviving traditional religious rituals, including pujas and home altars, as well as various Hindu festivals. The Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival held in multiple states and lasts four days. This special festival features specific rituals, Satvik food (which excludes garlic and onion), prayers, and gift offerings to express gratitude to the Sun god for providing life on earth and to ask for health and prosperity.

Using the Past to Improve the Present

This is the age of activism, and millennials are combining cultural traditions with modern-day goals. For example, Buddhists in Antioch, California, held an event to replace a history of negativity against Buddhists with a calming understanding. A group of Buddhist diaspora monks and leaders burned incense, spoke Buddhist and Tao chants, and prayed for mercy and compassion through karmic healing. What was remarkable about this event is that the Buddhists attending represented many Asian countries, and chants were spoken in multiple languages, including an antiquated language called Pali.

Another aspect of the Asian diaspora is the growing population of millennials who are multicultural. For example, some individuals are a blend of Korean and African American heritage. They celebrate both cultures, combining Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, with African libation ceremonies. Seollal celebrates the first day of the Korean Lunar Calendar. Korean family members gather together and pay respects to elders and ancestors. This celebration serves as a cultural bridge for Korean Americans, connecting them to their Korean heritage in modern life. The African American millennials celebrating the African libation ceremony are honoring their enslaved ancestors by playing music on traditional instruments and offering water as a symbol of the voyage's slaves endured across the ocean.

Filipino diaspora millennials are engaging in traditional Filipino shamanic practices, such as Babaylanism, to reclaim indigenous traditions. The traditional practice involves a shaman or healer who serves as a mediator between the human and spirit worlds. Filipino millennials are reclaiming the practice through literature, art, and social media. Some are engaged in indigenous healing practices, such as batok tattooing and hilot, a type of massage that restores the body’s harmony and balance.

Blending Ancient with Modern Millennials in Asia and the Asian diaspora use social media to revive and share ancient traditions with the world, from traditional Chinese embroidery to Indian dance. They share traditional recipes, demonstrate food traditions, and foster communities.7 Asian millennials are incorporating traditional practices into their lives, but they are not hesitant about using modern conveniences, such as social media, to share their efforts and invite others. The various traditional practices all seem to share a common goal of helping people appreciate the culture, ancestors, and beliefs integral to their human experience.