Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck Red is a symbol of luck and is used in most Vietnamese celebrations. Very superstitious. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. 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. Most funeral rites are performed in the presence of the body. Vietnamese superstitions, meanwhile, are vast and deeply embedded in people's psyche. 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. There is a balance as fine as a silk thread that has long been revered by us. calculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. 2. Knowing what to expect at a Vietnamese funeral is largely influenced by religion. 30. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". However, today, it usually lasts around three days. Reporter Christine Nguyen looks at her grandmother . 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. Vietnamese Funeral Traditions. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to ngho, which means poor in Vietnamese. Here are 40 Filipino superstitions to remember during these solemn occasions. A simple line such as Im deeply sorry for your loss is appropriate. The superstition about the casket proves that while family members are honored and taken care of even after deatha highly important concept in Vietnamese cultureit is also necessary to watch the casket and guard the deceased for the livings sake. 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. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their, 8. 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. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine, votive paper, lighting candles and burning incense before praying in front of the altar. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. Moreover, too many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire. 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. This superstitions list includes a lot of pretty common false beliefs that many superstitious people will recognize. Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. I'll just list a few. 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 Tt to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. Some of them are: burning votive paper, meeting fortune tellers to ask for a prediction of future, especially some negative superstitions prevent some young couples from marriage because of their contrasting ages. 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. 9:00-11:00 a.m.: Get ready to party! 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. Don't swear or fight. 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. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. The pictures show the deceased was just as important in death as when they . Here are 13 superstitions concerning death and dying that persist today and explanations of their possible origins. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. 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. 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 stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Remember to only eat an odd number of eggs (1, 3, 5) and crush the eggshells when youve finished. Here are 13 Thai superstitions that locals are familiar with - some of you might even be guilty of using it to scare little kids! When in doubt, observe how the family behaves during the funeral and be guided by them. Anything red. 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. This extends from the belief that loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. Preparing the Deceased's Body Burning incense is a way to respect the gods and the deceased relatives. Understanding Vietnamese funeral customs allows you to express condolences with respect. 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. 5. Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. One of the most common superstitions is the number four. Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. The majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than buried. Numbers, to most Chinese, are considered to be auspicious or inauspicious, depending on the sound of the number. This includes a picture of the deceased along with flowers, incense, and food offerings (e.g. Considered "windows to the soul," many superstitions involve the eyes of the deceased, such as placing coins on the eyelids of . So, relish the nightmares! Family members will wash and prepare the body before dressing the deceased in white clothing or semi-formal attire. A series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time if the deceased was religious. I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. These usually occur a week after death, and then on the 49th and 100th day. 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. 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. This represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. 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 . t va a common ritual for shop owners to shoo away bad luck. 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. Inhumation, the Main Funeral Style in China. Building a bathroom behind the main door is also unwise, not only will it create bad fortunes for homeowners, but it is also believed to cause health issues related to kidney, stomach, memory loss or even fertility problems. 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. In Vietnam passing a funeral or a bat is good luck. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. Tet or Vietnamese New Year's, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnam. 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.. In Japan and Korea, for instance, the word for the 4 and the word for death are . People hope for a better upcoming year when Tet arrives. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. All rights reserved 2012 2023 TheSmartLocal.com, Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. The following are some popular superstitions in Vietnam that can amaze you. But all in all the best method to cultivate good fortune is to do as many good deeds as you can. 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. Interment of the deceased will follow at the site of burial. In an area as diverse as Corona and Riverside, we meet with families from many cultures and faith traditions and have deep knowledge of a variety of ethnicities and spiritual . 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. It is believed that by doing so, youd sweep out the good luck that the new year brings. 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. Funeral traditions in Vietnamese culture can vary based on religious beliefs. 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. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. Wow, should I visit a Vietnamese family during the new year holiday? The main Catholic traditions observed in a Vietnamese funeral include: Whether a Vietnamese person has this belief is influenced by their religion. More distant relatives such as grandchildren may wear yellow headbands. 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. 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. Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. The best approach is to consult the family before the wake or funeral. These gi days occur yearly or more often depending on religion and beliefs. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. And when things are not going well. 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. Hold the door open. Comes with fortune-telling, there have to be remedies if the result of reading your destiny is bad. Owls are bad omens. , check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! For example, the, fishermen 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. These somewhat uncustomary views or actions arise from cultural beliefs, with some including: Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. A rosary is placed in the persons hands. 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