This extends from the belief that loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. Red represents happiness. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the funeral. Speaking of superstitions related to eating, in Vietnam, a lot of students avoid having eggs in their diet in the days leading up to a big exam. It is believed that by doing so, youd sweep out the good luck that the new year brings. The first person who enters the house on the first day of Vietnamese New Year can bring good or bad luck to that household. Every culture has its superstitions. 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 . Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? Writer David Lamb mentions it in an article about superstition in Vietnam, stating that Vietnamese folklore is a mixture Buddhism, local tradition . Nothing happened to me. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. Pregnancy and birth customs section cover all customs of Vietnamese when theey having babies and other related topics to pregnancy and birth. Necklace, wrist, ring, whatever. Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. They choose their numbers using a wide range of tools ranging from the year of birth, elemental/zodiac sign, or just a beautiful sequence of numbers, most notably quadruple eight and nine. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in. Our Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory staff considers it an honor to help families pay tribute to their loved ones after they die. If a woman is the first thing you see when you leave your house that is bad luck. 2. Depends on what youre praying for, be it health, wealth, or general fortune for yourself and your family, you will pray to different deities. Those other items used to be just clothes, hats, jewelry, cars, houses, etc., but now there are also modern and fashionable votives such as iPhones, computers, etc. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. 30. Family members hold constant vigil over the body. Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. Many of these Vietnamese superstitions are old beliefs passed down from previous generations that you can choose to follow or not as you see fit. The key steps include: Contrary to standard black attire adorned in western cultures, the immediate family of the deceased traditionally wear white headbands during a Vietnamese funeral. Sometimes, people can also t va after returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them. 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. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. Ideas About Death and Dying in Vietnam. The first customer of the day will determine whether it is a good or bad day for business. With many years of experience, she shares about the "range" of Vietnamese . Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years . It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one's parents. We're not kidding. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide, 9. The most gifted funeral flower in Vietnamese culture is the white lotus. The body must be completely cold before it can be washed and prepared so as not to disrupt this process. The Vietnamese, especially the young ones, also other kinds of fortune-telling from foreign countries like the horoscope and tarot. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. Flowers, money, or food are commonly shared with grieving families. I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. Throwing childrens baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. 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. If youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. The second story tells the tale of a Goddess who was responsible for cooking for Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor, King of the Heaven) but always tasted his meals first. Tet is more than just family gatherings,sticky rice cakes, and Lixi(lucky money). 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. Vietnamese also believe that a good combination of digits in their motorbike license plate or phone number can bring them good luck. Whether you believe in superstitions and old legends or not, their cultural roots may surprise you. We participate in affiliate programs that allow us to earn a commission at no cost to you. They are even concerned with who should first set foot in their house on . 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. Once all clock hands hit number 12, the old year ends, a new one comes, the person is expected to enter the gate of the house, send best wishes to the host, and just remain for a short time. Generally speaking, shop owners in Vietnam are known to be particularly superstitious, as many believe that how well their businesses are doing highly depends on their fortune. Here are 40 Filipino superstitions to remember during these solemn occasions. I'll just list a few. Swimming is a useful and, in many situations, a life-saving skill thats best learnt at a young age. Losing your temper or shouting will bring bad luck for the year. It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if thats actually the case. . Gesture University of California Irvine. Family members will wash and prepare the body before dressing the deceased in white clothing or semi-formal attire. 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. . There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Everyone should be on their best behavior during Tet towards neighbors, friends and family. So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes have a dragonfly bite their belly buttons, telling them its a gift thatll help them learn how to swim. Quite silly, actually. The main Buddhist customs you may observe at a Vietnamese funeral include: You will find that many of the funeral customs in the Catholic faith overlap with those of Buddhism. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. Culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet is known as a culinary "ambassador" who is always dedicated to bringing Vietnamese traditions to the world. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. When Vietnamese people celebrate Tet, which falls on the Lunar New Year date of Feb. 12, they describe it as "an Tet," an expression that translates to "eating the New Year." (Tet Nguyen . 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. This practice is known as Dot phong. Except for blood, probably. Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck Then you might be a superstitious person. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. When she is not trying to configure websites, Kate can be found walking in nature with a coffee firmly in hand. "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" establishes many traditional beliefs Tibetan Buddhists have . I don't believe in this superstition. 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. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. Even though it can be a fun thing to do once in a while, there are many Vietnamese who actually believe in it and got their money swindled, so it gives a bad impression when people talk about fortune-telling. . The best approach is to consult the family before the wake or funeral. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Lots of eating and drinking lies ahead. to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. Anything red. While offerings will be much appreciated, do not feel pressured to give anything as your presence will be welcome enough. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. Very superstitious. Compared to the western practice of one funeral mass, Vietnamese Catholics hold many services for the deceased. 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. Perhaps its because the city has a melancholic vibe to it that makes people think of sadness, or perhaps because there are many supposedly haunted places around associated with tragic love stories and ghosts of young girls betrayed by their lovers who dont want anyone else to be happy. Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. These gi days occur yearly or more often depending on religion and beliefs. The sellers often do this when a customer comes and leaves without buying anything first thing in the morning as they believe the customer has brought bad spirits to the shop. As an old Vietnamese saying put it, a dog coming into your house signifies good fortune. Whistle at night will attract snakes. Vietnamese funeral costume is white clothes with white headband. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. People hope for a better upcoming year when Tet arrives. This is just for Buddhists though. Burning incense is a way to respect the gods and the deceased relatives. Check here for more exotic Vietnamese dishes. Funeral Preparation. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). Generally, Vietnamese good luck symbols are of Chinese origin. that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. A marching band will lead the hearse which is followed by attendees. Some wealthy businessmen would even go as far as paying millions to acquire a good number. . Horoscopes are a method of foretelling a persons future based on the position and the movement of stars and planets in the universe and consulting horoscopes is one of the most popular superstitions in Vietnam. Shedding tears onto the body can be a bad omen. The event joins generations together in a commitment that extends beyond death. 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 biggest festival of the year in Vietnam, Tt is a time when we bid goodbye to a lunar year and usher in the next. To this end, key informants and focus group interviews were conducted with members of these ethnic groups, and significant differences among . There are plenty of strange Italian superstitions, irrational beliefs and practices that all aim to ward off bad luck. These somewhat uncustomary views or actions arise from cultural beliefs, with some including: Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. These somewhat uncustomary views or actions arise from cultural beliefs, with some including: It is important to note that superstitions vary between religions and regions (e.g. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. If you only serve one or two dishes, it will be considered bad. In addition, Vietnamese pregnant women avoid squatting in fear of dropping out the little kid or being in a mood since they dont want their newborn child to have a sorrowful face. Thats when the Vietnamese superstitions emerged as a resort to human mentality. Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. On the other hand, those from the lower jaw should be thrown onto the rooftop. You can often see this ritualduring the Tet holiday, one's funeral, the, Vietnamese Superstitions and Fortune-telling, There are many kinds of fortune-telling in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese really love fortune-telling. The superstition about the casket proves that while family members are honored and taken care of even after death a highly important concept in Vietnamese culture it is also necessary to watch the casket and guard the deceased for the living s sake. meaning wealth, prosperity. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. Here are history's 13 most enduring superstitions. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. As a courtesy, ensure that your phone remains silent when in use. More. It is used as a lucky color for wrapping gifts, including red envelopes. Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . "It turned us into a platoon of believers. Read more about, Depends on what youre praying for, be it health, wealth, or general fortune for yourself and your family, you will pray to different deities. List. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. But for Ian Rose the hairy mole is a lucky . 2. Burning ghost money is a popular superstitions in Vietnam - Source: phunuvietnam.vn. Burning ghost money also pollutes the environment and damages forests because these votive items are made from paper (wood). If the deceased will be cremated, then this is likely to be a final aspect of the service. My aunts superstitions still remain incredibly significant to her identity, shaping the way she lives life each day and permanently influencing her beliefs. Nowadays, though, a lot of dentists are recommending that these baby teeth are preserved. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. Choosing a lucky wedding date is probably the most important step in Chinese wedding planning. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Dogs bring good luck, cats bring bad luck, Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. You don't dispute facts"(118). Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. Keeping an eye on what or who enters the house is also just as important. A rosary is placed in the persons hands. This practice is known as Dot phonglong. i Tour Vietnam | Top-rated private Ho Chi Minh City tours and Vietnam travel guides. Family members that die a bad (violent) death are more likely to be a bitter spirit than those that die a good death. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. 6. The funeral occurring at a random time and day. Just as people from other countries have their own tales of tooth fairies, we Vietnamese also have our own way to deal with our baby teeth when they come off. Breaking a bottle of fish sauce is bad luck. In general, it can be viewed as offensive or bad luck for an expectant mother to attend a Vietnamese funeral. Any unfortunate events you meet in one year is because the sign of your zodiac is not comparable with the zodiac signs of that year. The number four gets its bad name because it sounds like "death" in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai. t va a common ritual for shop owners to shoo away bad luck. That said, as with all other superstitions, there is no scientific evidence for it, so dont let it stop you from capturing shots of memorable moments with your squad. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. This symbolizes the pure cyclical nature of life. 8.7K. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. Then, placing the shirt back into the coffin to complete the ritual. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. In Vietnam passing a funeral or a bat is good luck. The head of the family is the firm shoulder to other members to rely on, hence choosing the direction that is suitable for the breadwinner is the best. To guarantee a luckier new year, people follow superstitious beliefs. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. You may lose money. 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. Evidently, these superstitions reveal a great deal about Vietnamese culture and thought. That is why there are many Vietnamese superstitions forpregnant women. 2). The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin.