They come as they please and leave as they see fit, so their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune. For example, pregnant moms must refuse to attend funerals because these are the gathering places of miasma which can threaten the life of the fetus. The word for the number 4 sounds much like the word for death. As a courtesy, ensure that your phone remains silent when in use. Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. As such, dont let the rumors stop you from visiting this beautiful city with your significant other. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Lots of eating and drinking lies ahead. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. You shouldnt place any mirror opposite to the entrance because after a long day of working, seeing a shadow or reflection in the mirror as the first thing when you come home can create paranoia which can negatively affect homeowners mental health or make them suffer from nightmares, especially if you are a woman. Family members hold constant vigil over the body. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. If you hear the hoot of an owl, it's certain death. This superstition in Vietnam is taken quite seriously, so be sure not to show up uninvited to people's houses on the first day of Tet or set foot in their home after New Year's Eveif your age is not compatible. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. However, the owner can change that by changing the arrangement of their home and surrounding environment according to feng shui to harness lucky energy. The family of the deceased will prepare a banquet to share and visit the grave of their loved one to pray. The following are some popular superstitions in Vietnam that can amaze you. You might notice that in a funeral, there are people who wear white headband with the clothes, some others just wear white . Nothing happened to me. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. Don't swear or fight. More. This following article may be the best answer for the question What souvenir to buy in Vietnam?, Address: No.27 To Vinh Dien Street, Khuong Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam. For example, in the year of the dog, if your zodiac sign is a horse, a dog, or a tiger, you will bound to be in big trouble. And when things are not going well, t va, also called t phong long is a common ritual that they often perform to shoo bad luck off. Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. In Vietnam, it is common for the deceased to remain at home after their death until the funeral. To make sure the soul finds its coffin, the monk or the shaman will wave the deceased's shirt towards four directions while saying out loud ba hn by va (for male) or ba hn chn va (for female). If the lotus is unavailable then any white or yellow flower (if the deceased is elderly) will be appropriate. If youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. There are a total of five feng shui elements: earth, air, fire, wood, and metal. Despite the fact that there is disapproval of superstitious practices from the government, most Vietnamese still have strong deep-rooted beliefs in superstitions that were set by our ancestors long ago. O'brien shows how American soldiers order their experience by superstition rather than by rationality. Still, when it comes to their childrens well-being, its understandable that a lot of parents would rather be safe than sorry. Even when science and education have strongly developed, the majority of the Vietnamese still rely on common conceptions There is no worship without sacredness, there is no taboo without luck. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. Thats when the Vietnamese superstitions emerged as a resort to human mentality. If you visit a shop early in the morning in Vietnam, its considered common courtesy to buy something even if you dont really need it it neednt be a big purchase, a small item will do. In fact, some people prefer having cats as they dont need as much attention as dogs, making them perfect for the busy lives were now leading. In an apartment complex, the door should not be placed opposite of the elevator because owners can feel like everyone is peeking inside their home, and the privacy of the family will be disturbed by outside energy. Depending on religious beliefs, many of the Vietnamese culture believes that souls live on after death, but especially that a person should die in their home surrounded by his family. This is a list of signs believed to bring bad luck according to superstitions. Those are for good luck. A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from taking group pictures in which there are three people in the frame. Vietnamese believe that by cleaning the house during Tet, especially the first 3 days, they will sweep the good lucks and prosperity out of their home. To save our couples from the headache of digging all the dos and don'ts at their weddings, we have collected the 10 most important wedding superstitions in Chinese culture for you to follow. I'll just list a few. . It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if thats actually the case. Vietnamese Superstitions - Beliefs in Afterlife and Spiritual Beings Vietnamese usually offer foods and burn ghost money and votive items like houses, clothes, and cars for the death so that they can eat, spend, use and continue their afterlife in another world. Here are 13 Thai superstitions that locals are familiar with - some of you might even be guilty of using it to scare little kids! The Vietnamese hold special dinners to commemorate the 49 th and 100 th days of mourning as well as the first anniversary of their beloved family members' deaths. Regardless of customs, the focus of the service is to respectfully farewell a loved one. Placement of an oil lamp under the coffin during the wake will keep the spirit warm. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. A majority of traditional Vietnamese funerals consist of three stages ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Every year after a Vietnamese person's death, their children and grandchildren make a feast. Vietnamese also believe that a good combination of digits in their motorbike license plate or phone number can bring them good luck. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. Embalming, burial, organ donation, and medical donation of the body are acceptable in the Buddhist faith. While much of the culture is past-oriented, these superstitions mostly focus on preparations for the future to ensure that it is a successful and bright one. Breaking a Mirror The ancient Romans believed that human life renewed itself in 7-year cycles (mirroring the cycles of the moon). Pass Under the Casket. Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years . If the deceased will be cremated, then this is likely to be a final aspect of the service. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! Particularly, the first guest visiting the house is believed to bring luck to the host family and this Vietnam superstition has been standing for a very long time. When we take pictures of funerals or wakes, it's not to be macabre but more like a quiet reverence. One popular dish during these special meals would be bun bo, a hearty beef and noodle soup, perhaps to sustain families for futures without their loved ones who have died. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. So there is no wonder why Vietnamese practice a lot of these superstitions in order to make sure that the transition from the old to the new year happens as smoothly as possible. meaning wealth, prosperity. Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. A tourist hotspot of South Central Vietnam, Lt is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and stunning mountainous views. Do not sing in the kitchen or you'll get an old husband. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to ngho, which means poor in Vietnamese. Today, both dogs and cats are well-loved by thousands of pet owners. While it is common practice to give money in an envelope to assist with funeral costs, it is not mandatory to do so. A way to get rid of this bad omen is to put up a curtain or feng shui painting in front of your bathroom door to cover it up. 6. As Vietnamese funerals will likely have some unique customs, you should respectfully observe them and feel no pressure to engage. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. It is avoided to the extent that buildings sometimes 'skip' the 4th floor, labelling it as the 5th, which can be confusing if you're deciphering levels in a . I have seen owls and I think I heard them hoot even though it was a long time ago. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. Superstitions are more than persistent irrationality. This is done to signify respect and to show mourning. Old wives' tales have been around for centuries, and many people still believe them. According to Vietnamese superstitions, whenever you seem to have too much misfortune in your life, youre being shadowed by a spirit. 30. Many also choose to arrange the display as a wreath so that it can be draped over the coffin. Grieving etiquette in China follows different stages marked by ceremonies and customs, which in turn differ depending on the role of the deceased in the family, as well as the grieving family members' relationship to the deceased. For example, people with the zodiac sign of the mouse should visit homeowners with signs of buffalo, dragon, monkey, and if people born in the year of the snake wouldn't be welcomed to visit a family whose head of the family is born in the year of the mouse. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. As we were readying the food and setting up the table, she asked if I knew any Vietnamese superstitions regarding the New Year, and proceeded to enlighten me. The Vietnamese strongly believe that a person should die at home and be surrounded by his family. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. A possible explanation for this belief is that the barking of dogs is often interpreted as gu gu in Vietnamese, which sounds similar to giu giu, where giu means rich. They are even concerned with who should first set foot in their house on . Vietnam's massive library of idioms also teaches important values and life lessons: to work hard, to love one another, to remember one's roots. However, there are many people who are completely delusional and blindly believe in these things, harming not only themselves but also those around them. Ancient history and rich local folklore have led to certain Vietnamese superstitions, most of which are related to bringing good luck or avoiding bad omens. The door is one of the most important aspects of feng shui in your home. In feng shui law, your personal lucky number iscalculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. Check out our Vietnam travel guide or our private tours if you wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of Vietnam. In order to ensure a prosperous and happy new year, so many aspects must be taken care of, such as making sure that even the first person to enter the house is in a perfectly good moodnot the easiest task! 2). Any of the Four Symbols. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. North and South Vietnam have different approaches). Burning incense is a way to respect the gods and the deceased relatives. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. Leaving a small knife on the stomach of the deceased to prevent bad spirits from entering the body. According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, once removed, baby teeth from the upper jaw should be placed under the bed. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. If your element is water, you should go for black or blue in combination with white or silver, which is associated with the purity of water, and avoid brown or yellow tone because water and earth are conflicting elements. One of the most common superstitions is the number four. This clothes are made of very thin gauze textile so the dead person's family wears this clothes over their regular clothes. Your birth year is 1996, 9 + 6 = 15 -> 1 + 5 = 6, If you are male: 10 - 6 = 4 then your lucky number is 4, If you are female: 6 + 5 = 12 -> 1 + 2 = 3 then your lucky, Irrational Beliefs in Vietnamese Superstitions. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". The priest then conducts a. Some Vietnamese Superstitions during Tet Holidays, Xongdat- also known as the first home caller or first foot, This superstition in Vietnam is taken quite seriously, so be sure not to show up uninvited to people's houses on the first day of Tet or set foot in their home after New Year's Eve, Other taboos include wearing black or white, as these colors are associated with death and funeral; borrowing money during this time is also frowned upon. Commonly, judging the direction depends on the age and information of the eldest members, also referred to as the head of the family or the lineage. When it is the funeral,the anniversary of the death or big holidays, they will burn a couple of ghost money and paper items in the hope that their ancestors or deceased people can receive them. 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