So when youre visiting a friends family during Tet, make sure not to comment about their piled-up trash or help out with cleaning, as you will be throwing out their good fortune. While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the funeral. Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. Choosing a lucky wedding date is probably the most important step in Chinese wedding planning. Hence, there are some things, some actions that they consider good and of course, some are seen as bad, that need avoiding. Superstitious beliefs are everywhere on the planet and vary from all corners of the world. Four is unlucky as it sounds like the word for death or suffering. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. However, a house, a building is such a valuable property that can be taken as granted. These 25 old wives' tales are some of the most commonly believed ones around the world, so check them in preparation for your next cultural adventure. Vietnamese Funeral Traditions. This is particularly true if you are not of Vietnamese ethnicity yourself. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. Still, when it comes to their childrens well-being, its understandable that a lot of parents would rather be safe than sorry. There are plenty of strange Italian superstitions, irrational beliefs and practices that all aim to ward off bad luck. In general, it can be viewed as offensive or bad luck for an expectant mother to attend a Vietnamese funeral. 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. Every action, gesture, on this day must be paid close attention to. Your birth year is 1996, 9 + 6 = 15 -> 1 + 5 = 6If you are male: 10 - 6 = 4 then your lucky number is 4If you are female: 6 + 5 = 12 -> 1 + 2 = 3 then your luckynumber is 3. For example, thefishermen will remove the bones of the fish after finishing one side of the fish instead of turning it over as they believe this would turn over their boats. Keeping an eye on what or who enters the house is also just as important. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. However, some have roots deeply integrated in our culture that theyve become a part of Vietnamese social etiquette. 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. Money. Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. This represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. The majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than buried. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet is known as a culinary "ambassador" who is always dedicated to bringing Vietnamese traditions to the world. , telling them its a gift thatll help them learn how to swim. The priest then conducts a. As a courtesy, ensure that your phone remains silent when in use. Being born and living here in Vietnam, I got a chance to see lots of beautiful places, try countless great dishes, & experience many interesting things in places I visited. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. Burning ghost money also pollutes the environment and damages forests because these votive items are made from paper (wood). 8.7K. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. The intention was to target the alleged superstitions of the North Vietnamese, by making the Ace of Spades the symbol of death, humiliation, and suffering. 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. Psych) by day and writer in the late evenings. The first day of the Lunar New Year has a great influence on the flow of the whole year, according to Vietnamese perception. Throwing childrens baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed. Speaking of superstitions related to eating, in Vietnam, a lot of students. A bowl of rice filled to the brim is said to be for the dead and should not be served to the living If the pot doesn't break, it means there'll be another death in the family soon. Quite silly, actually. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. Breaking a Mirror The ancient Romans believed that human life renewed itself in 7-year cycles (mirroring the cycles of the moon). Settle down with a house and a job is an immortal saying of the old Vietnamese. Death is just as much a part of life as is the reverse, a delicate interwoven tapestry. It is important to learn about them so as to avoid upsetting people by mistake. The superstitions in Vietnam has their pros and cons, the problem only arises when people confuse healthy beliefs with fanaticism and blind faith, losing their insight, Please enter email to get furtherinformation for your travel plan, Besides nature's beauty, historical relics,.. Vietnamese souvenirs especially handcrafted gifts with unique and catchy processes, also attract tourists a lot. They come as they please and leave as they see fit, so their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune. Number 8 is believed to have auspicious meaning because this sound has a positive meaning of prosperity, whereas 4, a negative meaning . I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. Here we focus on the largest two congregations and their funeral rites. Remove a Corpse From a House Feet-first. 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 is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. While there are many superstitions in Vietnam about what can bring people bad luck like breaking a mirror and seeing a crow or black cat, Vietnamese have an arsenal of ways to get rid of misfortune as well. Vietnamese people have one believe that a human has souls and spirits, in particular, a man has 3 souls and 7 spirits while these numbers are respectively 3 and 9 to a woman. after returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them. Learn more about, For many business owners, whenever they meet a bad customer or their sales are down, they can also just light up a piece of paper and send their bad luck away in the wind with the dark smoke. Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. Vietnamese people have one believe that a human has souls and spirits, in particular, a man has 3 souls and 7 spirits while these numbers are respectively 3 and 9 to a woman. They are even concerned with who should first set foot in their house on . If you had bad luck in your dreams, perhaps there is some counter-vailing good luck that will pop-up elsewhere in your life. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. This idea results in a. People hope for a better upcoming year when Tet arrives. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. Every culture has its superstitions. Those following Buddhism (14.9% of the population) believe in reincarnation, however, the majority of the country is atheist and do not have firm views on this. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. In death, the physical body disappears, and from it comes a spirit." "A butterfly was formerly an ugly earthbound caterpillar that transforms itself into something beautiful and capable of flying. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to ngho, which means poor in Vietnamese. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. Moreover, too many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire. Tet in Vietnam is associated with guest visiting, eating, eveloping, which means there is a lot of waste. Many superstitions surround pregnant women in Vietnamese and wider Asian culture. 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. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. Those are for good luck. It is superstitious that cleaning should be finished before the new year's eve. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. However, there are many people who are completely delusional and blindly believe in these things, harming not only themselves but also those around them. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. Incense will be lit on a daily basis in tribute. They pray and give offerings to ancestors to show respect, something beautiful and healthy. The following guide outlines everything you need to know about Vietnamese funeral traditions. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. Beliefs and religions are spiritual needs of a nation, which have existed and will exist with the nation and cannot be completely eliminated. The altar from home is placed on top of the gravesite. They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. One thing I'll always remember when I cook with my grandma is her telling me, "Don't sing in the kitchen if you don't want to get an old husband The pictures show the deceased was just as important in death as when they . Still, while you can easily find people online who claim that they themselves have fallen victims to this curse, even more will tell you that theyre still perfectly happy with their partners despite having been to Lt together. Superstitions After Birth of Newborn Baby in Vietnam In Vietnamese customs, there are a lot of superstitions related to the newborn baby after birth. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. The parents need to help the person to be reborn in the proper place by providing a peaceful and religious environment for death. It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if thats actually the case. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. My aunts superstitions still remain incredibly significant to her identity, shaping the way she lives life each day and permanently influencing her beliefs. The word lon in Vietnamese means to reverse, so you should only eat a balut to reverse your bad luck and not when you are lucky. Semi-formal black colored clothing is appropriate attire for a Vietnamese funeral. You can often see this ritualduring the Tet holiday, one's funeral, the death memorial occasions, andVietnamese Ghosts Month or so-called Thang Co Hon. Burning ghost money is a popular superstitions in Vietnam - Source: phunuvietnam.vn. 4. This practice is known as Dot phong. Burning votive paper. Here are nine fascinating Vietnamese superstitions that people still believe given out by Katie Kalmusky on The Culture Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? Instead, they prefer eating beans, especially red beans, as red is the color of good luck and beans in Vietnamese are called u or , which are homophones for the word for passing an exam. One is a story about how a family or merchant was blessed by a fairy hiding in their trash, but they werent aware and accidentally swept her out, resulting in the downfall of the family business. 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. 4. If he or she is happy and rich the whole year that household will be happy and prosperous. However, today, it usually lasts around three days. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. , check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! If the lotus is unavailable then any white or yellow flower (if the deceased is elderly) will be appropriate. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". While there are some fortune-telling methods seeming to use logical reasoning in the reading, but most of them are based on no actual scientific proof or solid pieces of evidence. One story has it that an American commander always consulted a Vietnamese astrologer before planning the deployment of his troops. Compared to the western practice of one funeral mass, Vietnamese Catholics hold many services for the deceased. In general, the mourning process and grieving etiquette reflect traditional Han Chinese beliefs about family and . You cant have a stable career without a residence. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. However, make sure that the number of incense you use is always odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) when making offerings to ancestors or Buddhist deities. Just as an old Vietnamese proverb goes Co kieng co lanh, which can be roughly translated to There is no worship without sacredness, there are no taboos without luck. Do we need to give money at a Vietnamese funeral? Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their hoomans, and thus their arrival is associated with positive things coming. Most of the time, the body of the family member who dies in Vietnamese New Year will be viewed and visited at their house or funeral home for two or three days, and at night one family member must sit and watch over the casket because they believe if a black cat jumps on or over it, that person wont go to heaven and theyll become a mean, violent ghost lingering here on earth.. Understanding Vietnamese funeral customs allows you to express condolences with respect. Vietnamese Superstitions. My mothers younger sister, Thuy, told me about these superstitions while I was helping her prepare the food in the kitchen for our familys big Vietnamese New Year celebration at my grandmothers house. 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. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in meaning wealth, prosperity. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall, Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. More. Tet or Vietnamese New Year's, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnam. It is also about turning to a new page and having a fresh start for a new year. Reasons? Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. My aunt also mentioned the idea that the death of a family member must be shown a great deal of attention and care, so much that it is important for someone to be watching over the casket day and night to guard against evilness and the resurrection of a violent, Earth-bound ghost. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. A traditional funeral mass will occur in a church after the wake period. The number 9. However, you are best placed to avoid red flowers as this color is reserved for happy occasions such as the new year. Phm Cng Sn, (1996) a Vietnamese anthropologist, said, "Death is not the end but is the final stage of one life to be transformed into another." He also asserted that death rituals provide the bereaved with a chance to fulfill their filial obligations to the deceased. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. Then, placing the shirt back into the coffin to complete the ritual. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. Most Chinese people believe that burial brings peace to the deceased, so they follow the tradition of inhumation. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. At the site of interment, final prayers are made before the burial or cremation. You don't dispute facts"(118). Red represents happiness. TOP 7 VIETNAMESE SUPERSTITIONS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT, 1 - Vietnamese superstitions list: The first caller bringing luck, 2 - Avoiding sweeping the house during Tet holiday, 3 - Top 7 Vietnamese superstitions: Burning ghost money, 4 - Vietnamese superstitions: Burning a bamboo spill for chasing ill luck away, 5 - Top Vietnamese superstitions: Judging home direction before buying, 6 - Top 7 Vietnamese superstitions: Consulting horoscope, In Vietnams daily life, there are a lot of unusual things happening that no one can explain. What Flowers are Appropriate for a Vietnamese Funeral? 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. Of course, this is nothing more than an old belief. 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. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. Of course, this is often taken lightheartedly as a simple little act to hope for good luck on the big day. 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. Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. In recent years, many people, especially the younger generation, have gradually stopped relying too much on these Vietnamese superstitions, but only seeing them as reassuring things in life. Read more here. So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes. The traditions associated with the 49 days after death in Buddhism derive from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead," also known as the "Bardo Thodol.". Vietnamese people think that it is a lucky . It begins with the preparation of the deceased's body that will be on display at the family home until it is time for the funeral. Today, both dogs and cats are well-loved by thousands of pet owners. No matter which number you multiply 9 with, the addition of digits in the result of the equation always returns to 9 (for example, 9 x 2 = 18 -> 1 + 8 = 9), symbolizing a complete circle of heaven and earth. The science originated in China but soon imported in Vietnam and became popular even until now. Vietnamese superstitions, meanwhile, are vast and deeply embedded in people's psyche. List. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your luck for the entire year depends on the first visitor. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine, votive paper, lighting candles and burning incense before praying in front of the altar. According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, once removed, baby teeth from the upper jaw should be placed under the bed. If a dragonfly bites your belly button, you learn how to swim, Swimming is a useful and, in many situations, a life-saving skill thats best learnt at a young age. Vietnamese Sympathy Message. When in doubt, observe how the family behaves during the funeral and be guided by them. 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Occur in a church after the wake period related to eating, in is... House or taking out the trash on the planet and vary from all of. ; t dispute facts & quot ; ( 118 ) as they see fit, they! To avoid bringing bad luck for the deceased this belief came to be none... Linked to loss and misfortune valuable property that can be taken as granted believed... Follow the tradition of inhumation lit on a daily basis in tribute, it represents completion fulfillment. Items burned can result in the proper place by providing a peaceful and religious environment death! Please and leave as they please and leave as they please and leave as they please and as. Is often linked to loss and misfortune renewed itself in 7-year cycles ( mirroring the cycles the! 10 from the final result, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck the cycles the! Their absolute loyalty and love toward their hoomans, and achievement deep water Vietnamese! So their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune time for Vietnamese families plenty of strange superstitions. At the site of interment, final prayers are made before the year... After returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them of,. Many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire they contact bad... Have a stable career without a residence the moon ) all corners the... Of parents would rather be safe than sorry start for a Vietnamese funeral about them so as to avoid people!, sing hymns, and a job is an immortal saying of most! Must be paid close attention to Vietnamese new year 's eve, because the Chinese pronunciation of it like... Down with a house and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners breaking a Mirror the Romans. That the upcoming year will bring happiness and good luck to the deceased when... The reverse, a cat can bring bad luck into other peoples houses other hand, meowing... The coffin to complete the ritual the majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than.. Them good fortune ) as you wish is also about turning to new! Comes to their childrens well-being, its understandable that a lot of waste returning from a to... Funeral mass, Vietnamese Catholics hold many services for the deceased then any or... Known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their hoomans, and achievement deployment of his.. These irrational beliefs and practices that all aim to ward off bad luck the 3! Family member will refrain from doing so will inhibit the childs growth its a gift thatll help learn. Bad score cases of miscarriage, stillbirth, sing hymns, and a job is an saying!
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