Here are history's 13 most enduring superstitions. 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. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. Can I Take Photos at a Vietnamese Funeral? A funeral service is held on or just before the final day. Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. Fear of the number 9 is known as enneaphobia, in Japanese culture; this is because it sounds like the . 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. 2. 1. While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. The parents need to help the person to be reborn in the proper place by providing a peaceful and religious environment for death. Compared to the western practice of one funeral mass, Vietnamese Catholics hold many services for the deceased. Buyer must ponder days and nights before making a decision. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one's parents. 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 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. tragic circumstances) nature of the death. 7. Some wealthy businessmen would even go as far as paying millions to acquire a good number. With many years of experience, she shares about the "range" of Vietnamese . Thats when the Vietnamese superstitions emerged as a resort to human mentality. Following the interment, family and guests will return to the home for a meal or funeral reception. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. Very superstitious. Discover some South-East Asian superstitions that our Destination Specialists have come across on their travels. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. In the Buddhist tradition. 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 Nowadays, though, a lot of dentists are recommending that these baby teeth are preserved. This represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. However, you are best placed to avoid red flowers as this color is reserved for happy occasions such as the new year. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. 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. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. Most often, these are small, harmless acts that we might as well do to hope for good luck, but at the end of the day, its important to remember not to get too obsessed with them to the point where they affect our lives in a negative way. The casket is placed in a central room allowing visitors to come and pay their respects. 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. Like most other Eastern countries, Vietnam also has its own beliefs, culture, and religions, which have been formed and developed over the centuries. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. "It turned us into a platoon of believers. Our Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory staff considers it an honor to help families pay tribute to their loved ones after they die. Choosing a lucky wedding date is probably the most important step in Chinese wedding planning. It is believed that the first person to entire the house after midnight of the Lunar New Year Eve is responsible for the good or bad fortune that follows the family throughout the year. The reason for this tradition can be explained by the name of the dish itself. Check out our Vietnam travel guide or our private tours if you wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of Vietnam. Due to this, expectant mums are encouraged to avoid funerals as they risk putting an omen on the grieving. 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. 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. To guarantee a luckier new year, people follow superstitious beliefs. Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. Family members will burn fake items made of paper such as money, iPhones, jewelry, and cars. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. Everyone should be on their best behavior during Tet towards neighbors, friends and family. 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. 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. 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. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral usually provide gifts as a gesture of sympathy. Vietnamese funerals. The following guide outlines everything you need to know about Vietnamese funeral traditions. Customers buying a lot is considered a good sign and vice versa. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. Semi-formal black colored clothing is appropriate attire for a Vietnamese funeral. 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. And when things are not going well. Gesture University of California Irvine. Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck The body must be completely cold before it can be washed and prepared so as not to disrupt this process. In feng shui law, your personal lucky number is. A marching band will lead the hearse which is followed by attendees. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. Superstitious beliefs are everywhere on the planet and vary from all corners of the world. Funeral Preparation. They pray and give offerings to ancestors to show respect, something beautiful and healthy. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. Vietnamese Funeral Traditions. We're not kidding. 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. It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if thats actually the case. When she is not trying to configure websites, Kate can be found walking in nature with a coffee firmly in hand. Sometimes, people can also. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. 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. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. If you had bad luck in your dreams, perhaps there is some counter-vailing good luck that will pop-up elsewhere in your life. The priest then conducts a. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. Burning ghost money is a long-term tradition in Vietnam, derived from the gratitude and filial piety of the children - the next generation - to the preceding generations. The first day of the Lunar New Year has a great influence on the flow of the whole year, according to Vietnamese perception. The music chosen reflects the happier or somber (e.g. A simple line such as Im deeply sorry for your loss is appropriate. Most funeral rites are performed in the presence of the body. 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. When in doubt, observe how the family behaves during the funeral and be guided by them. Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. The ritual is simple: the shop owner lights a piece of paper on fire and waves it around in front of their shop to scare the bad luck away. 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. 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.". Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. 4. 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. Hold the door open. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. The owl is a sign of bad luck. Vietnamese people believe that the world of the dead is the same as that of the living, and the burned items will be brought down to their relatives in the dead realm. 4. These papers are known as "votive papers . Balut - fertilized duck egg embryo - also known as Hot vit lon, is a popular food Vietnamese use to get rid of bad fortune. Family members hold constant vigil over the body. This is particularly true if you are not of Vietnamese ethnicity yourself. Those prone to waterworks may compromise the future success of their children. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. This does not impact our reviews as our values are to remain objective. 41 Surprisingly Fun Funeral Ideas To Celebrate A Life Lived, 21 Ideas What To Get Someone Whose Dog Died. 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 will bathe and prepare the deceased in formal clothing. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. Check out our, This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. Influenced by Buddhism, many Chinese people believe that the souls of the dead stay and protect their descendants. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. Meanwhile, cats areyou know, cats. The deceased is viewed with similar reverence to the living and so the same norms for taking pictures apply. The following are some popular superstitions in Vietnam that can amaze you. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in. 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. 1) The first day of Tet. . I have seen owls and I think I heard them hoot even though it was a long time ago. Superstition and belief are still large parts of daily Vietnamese life. 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. In Vietnam, reading. 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