In order to get rid of it, it is advised that you should draw a line of salt in front of your door, this will act as a talisman or protective charm that will keep the spirits from entering your home. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. One story has it that an American commander always consulted a Vietnamese astrologer before planning the deployment of his troops. People, especially the female, will go to fortune-tellers (thay boi) and see their, Vietnamese Superstitions - Remedies for Bad Luck and Changing One's Fortune, Most Vietnamese have multiple altars in both their home and workplace to worship their ancestors as well as different deities like Buddha, Bodhisattva, Than Tai, (Caishen) - God of Wealth, and Phuc Loc Tho - the three Gods of Prosperity, Wealth, and Longevity. . to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. Placement of an oil lamp under the coffin during the wake will keep the spirit warm. 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. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. Today, both dogs and cats are well-loved by thousands of pet owners. Then, placing the shirt back into the coffin to complete the ritual. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. These Vietnamese superstitions not only reflect in our traditions, culture, day to day life but to the extent that they can also dictate from which date is the best to open a business, go on a vacation or wedding ceremony, etc. 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. 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. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. 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. In Japan and Korea, for instance, the word for the 4 and the word for death are . Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. Vietnamese formal meals have lots of dishes, big and small, all served together For a big formal meal, with many guests, the standard is to have at least 4-5 dishes. i Tour Vietnam | Top-rated private Ho Chi Minh City tours and Vietnam travel guides. This is because I wasn't born in Vietnam and I didn't know about . There isnt any scientific proof to back up this claim, but its still a story passed down from one generation to the next, especially in rural areas near rivers. Losing your temper or shouting will bring bad luck for the year. On the 12-year lunar calendar commonly used throughout Asia, many of the years are considered incompatible. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. If you only serve one or two dishes, it will be considered bad. Funeral Preparation. Of course, this is often taken lightheartedly as a simple little act to hope for good luck on the big day. In the S-shaped country, pregnant women need to pay close attention to a series of taboos, some of which have scientific bases, some dont. In the Buddhist tradition. Check out our, This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. This idea results in a. 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. 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. Gesture University of California Irvine. Those prone to waterworks may compromise the future success of their children. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. Relatives . People, especially the female, will go to fortune-tellers (thay boi) and see their luck in the relationship with family members, love life, and work or business progress in the next year. The job of coordinating and preparing Chinese funerals falls on the children or younger family members of the deceased person. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. 7. One of the taboos that people abstain from is sweeping their houses or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. According to Staticia, 14.9% of the population are practicing Buddhists while 7.3% are Roman Catholic. So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes. 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. The number 9. One of the Vietnamese superstitions of buying a house is judging the home's direction. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. 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. Funeral traditions in Vietnamese culture can vary based on religious beliefs. That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. . 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. As such, dont let the rumors stop you from visiting this beautiful city with your significant other. Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. 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. Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. Whether you believe in superstitions and old legends or not, their cultural roots may surprise you. Vietnamese Buddhist Funeral Customs (49 days). 4. Your luck for the entire year depends on the first visitor. The belief may have to do with an idea of luck and "balance": good luck somewhere is balanced by bad luck elsehwere. Remove a Corpse From a House Feet-first. 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. Vietnamese funeral costume is white clothes with white headband. As Vietnamese funerals will likely have some unique customs, you should respectfully observe them and feel no pressure to engage. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. 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. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, once removed. It's A Good Time To Resolve Feuds National Geographic reports that the Batammaliba. that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. 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. 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. Vietnamese Superstitions. While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the funeral. Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. Moreover, too many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire. Therefore, it's bad luck to carry a corpse home. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. Money. O'brien shows how American soldiers order their experience by superstition rather than by rationality. 7:00-9:00 p.m.: More guests are on their way. One of the most common superstitions is the number four. 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. 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. Burning votive paper. They believe that everything must be cleaned before this day arrives as a tardy cleanse can sweep away all of the family's good luck and prosperity. Here are 13 superstitions concerning death and dying that persist today and explanations of their possible origins. This idea results in a Vietnam superstition which is burning a bamboo spill (a piece of paper) to drive ill spirits away. Don't swear or fight. The altar from home is placed on top of the gravesite. 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. Again, this is just wishful thinking from parents, hoping that their kids will have all the best in life. Image credit: @ng10_11. Every year after a Vietnamese person's death, their children and grandchildren make a feast. Burning incense is a way to respect the gods and the deceased relatives. The purpose of this study was to begin to explore cultural variations in response to the process of dying and grieving among four Asian American populations--Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Filipino. 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 In any case, avoiding pictures with 3 people has become a common superstition in Vietnam, even in our modern society. The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Some people possess "good spirits" which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. This practice is known as Dot phong. Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. 4. There are few conventions around floral gifts as with western funerals. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. But all in all the best method to cultivate good fortune is to do as many good deeds as you can. . They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. This is just for Buddhists though. 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. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from taking group pictures in which there are three people in the frame. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. In feng shui law, your personal lucky number is. If the lotus is unavailable then any white or yellow flower (if the deceased is elderly) will be appropriate. 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. 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. You don't dispute facts"(118). When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them. The first option is to have the oldest person in the family be the home caller; this Vietnamese superstition comes from the view that the elders have accumulated a lot of good deeds, fortune, and knowledge in their long life and can share their longevity, peacefulness, and good fortune with the whole family. 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. As an old Vietnamese saying put it, a dog coming into your house signifies good fortune. Everyone hopes to bring themselves and their loved ones good fortune over the coming year, and one thing that dictates the family's luck is the first visitor of the year. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). 41 Surprisingly Fun Funeral Ideas To Celebrate A Life Lived, 21 Ideas What To Get Someone Whose Dog Died. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in meaning wealth, prosperity. The first customer of the day will determine whether it is a good or bad day for business. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. Comes with fortune-telling, there have to be remedies if the result of reading your destiny is bad. To chase away bad luck, Vietnamese will burn incense or a piece of paper and fan the smoke. This allows the soul to find its way home. However, some have roots deeply integrated in our culture that theyve become a part of Vietnamese social etiquette. You cant have a stable career without a residence. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). At sunrise or very early on the final day, a procession to transport the coffin to a gravesite or crematory will occur. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Hold the door open. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide here. Therefore, normally families will determine a person who is successful, generous, sociable, and healthy and send an invitation to him or her and note that they are the first caller of their home. I'll just list a few. If you are able to speak Vietnamese, then some sympathy messages include: If you do not speak Vietnamese, then general condolences will be welcomed by the grieving. Throwing childrens baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed. 2. My aunts superstitions still remain incredibly significant to her identity, shaping the way she lives life each day and permanently influencing her beliefs. 1. Buddha-anything. The main Catholic traditions observed in a Vietnamese funeral include: Whether a Vietnamese person has this belief is influenced by their religion. And when things are not going well. 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