Wow, should I visit a Vietnamese family during the new year holiday? When she is not trying to configure websites, Kate can be found walking in nature with a coffee firmly in hand. The Vietnamese believe when you see one that means someone, especially those who are close to you, is going to die. 7. In line with tradition, immediate family members are expected to wear white and adorn matching headbands. Traditional Vietnamese funerals are multi-day events that last anywhere from one to three days or more. This practice is known as Dot phonglong. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. We're not kidding. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. Vietnamese superstitions to know You've probably heard sayings such as "13 is an unlucky number" or "don't walk under a ladder or you'll face bad luck" before. They come as they please and leave as they see fit, so their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune. If you had bad luck in your dreams, perhaps there is some counter-vailing good luck that will pop-up elsewhere in your life. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. This is done to signify respect and to show mourning. You cant have a stable career without a residence. I have seen owls and I think I heard them hoot even though it was a long time ago. Shedding tears onto the body can be a bad omen. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. 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. Superstitions After Birth of Newborn Baby in Vietnam In Vietnamese customs, there are a lot of superstitions related to the newborn baby after birth. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their hoomans, and thus their arrival is associated with positive things coming. 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. If there is a long delay between the death and burial then an embalmer will attend and support with preservation of the body. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in fengshui. Vietnamese funerals have complex rituals, to say the least: gold coins and rice in the deceased person's mouth, finger and toe nails clipped and packaged, and, weirdest of all, a vigilant guard for the coffin so that cats and dogs don't jump over the body and bring the deceased back to life. This usually includes a wake, mass or prayer service, and burial or cremation. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. The first person who enters the house on the first day of Vietnamese New Year can bring good or bad luck to that household. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. 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. Therefore, buying a house is a basic need for everyone. As with many other Asian countries, rice is an indispensable part of a typical Vietnamese meal, to the point where we commonly refer to having lunch or dinner as n cm, or to eat rice. And as you eat rice, there are certain rules that must be followed. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. For more insights on, check our guide on, Conclusion on What You Should Know About Vietnamese Superstitions, Superstitious beliefs are everywhere on the planet and vary from all corners of the world. The arrangement of an altar. And when things are not going well, t va, also called t phong long is a common ritual that they often perform to shoo bad luck off. Discover some South-East Asian superstitions that our Destination Specialists have come across on their travels. Those are for good luck. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall, Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their. Ancestral worship which includes the use of an altar with pictures, incense, and various food offerings is an example of this. This extends from the belief that death is an end to the body and not the spirit. Settle down with a house and a job is an immortal saying of the old Vietnamese. Vietnamese superstitions, meanwhile, are vast and deeply embedded in people's psyche. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide, 9. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. 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. In the past, a Vietnamese funeral could last up to a month or more. Gold coins and rice are placed in the mouth of the deceased during the preparation of the body. Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the 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. #4 means death, #13 means bad luck (buildings rarely have floor 4 & 13 because of this reason), #7 is our lucky number (that's why slot machines' biggest jackpot is if you get 7's in a row), A majority of traditional Vietnamese funerals consist of three stages ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Fear of the number 9 is known as enneaphobia, in Japanese culture; this is because it sounds like the . 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Lots of eating and drinking lies ahead. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). My aunts superstitions still remain incredibly significant to her identity, shaping the way she lives life each day and permanently influencing her beliefs. 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. As such, it is holy and shouldnt be used by mere mortals. 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. 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. 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. The belief may have to do with an idea of luck and "balance": good luck somewhere is balanced by bad luck elsehwere. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide here. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. Many superstitions surround pregnant women in Vietnamese and wider Asian culture. It was believed that all these features were well-known to the Vietnamese and that the card was a potent symbol that would strike fear into the enemy ranks. Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. Here are 40 Filipino superstitions to remember during these solemn occasions. However, it is a custom of the country that people dont clean their homes during the time because sweeping dirt means throwing away fortune. 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. 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. Do you find yourself throwing spilled salt over your shoulder without even stopping to consider why? The event joins generations together in a commitment that extends beyond death. Of course, this is nothing more than an old belief. 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. This idea results in a Vietnam superstition which is burning a bamboo spill (a piece of paper) to drive ill spirits away. calculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. 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. They will usually adorn white clothing or shrouds as well. 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. . Speaking of superstitions related to eating, in Vietnam, a lot of students. Displays of wealth are not appropriate during the funeral. Ideas About Death and Dying in Vietnam. Writer David Lamb mentions it in an article about superstition in Vietnam, stating that Vietnamese folklore is a mixture Buddhism, local tradition . Superstition has been known to determine the conduct of the war in this ravaged country. Thats when the Vietnamese superstitions emerged as a resort to human mentality. This is one of the popular Vietnamese superstitions New Year. 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. You might notice that in a funeral, there are people who wear white headband with the clothes, some others just wear white . The majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than buried. This superstitions list includes a lot of pretty common false beliefs that many superstitious people will recognize. 6. More. Stay updated with the latest news of the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and information for traveling to Vietnam. In Japan and Korea, for instance, the word for the 4 and the word for death are . Considered "windows to the soul," many superstitions involve the eyes of the deceased, such as placing coins on the eyelids of . O'brien shows how American soldiers order their experience by superstition rather than by rationality. 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. Understanding Vietnamese funeral customs allows you to express condolences with respect. 2. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. Reporter Christine Nguyen looks at her grandmother . Those prone to waterworks may compromise the future success of their children. 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 biggest festival of the year in Vietnam, Tt is a time when we bid goodbye to a lunar year and usher in the next. Even though most people believe that everything is numbered, they are still curious about their destiny and find horoscope masters to get informed and ask for advice. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. To this end, key informants and focus group interviews were conducted with members of these ethnic groups, and significant differences among . The parents need to help the person to be reborn in the proper place by providing a peaceful and religious environment for death. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. The same is true for many other Asian cultures, which share a number of linguistic similarities. It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if thats actually the case. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. . 6. List. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. Losing your temper or shouting will bring bad luck for the year. If you only serve one or two dishes, it will be considered bad. The Italian culture has many beliefs passed down from generation to generation and even though many of them may seem absurd to an outsider, they are taken more or less seriously by natives! However, today, it usually lasts around three days. Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . It is used as a lucky color for wrapping gifts, including red envelopes. Although historians are unsure of the origins of the middle person in a photograph of three meeting his maker first, this superstition seems to feature heavily in Asian superstition [source: Jensen]. Sometimes, people can also. Breaking a Mirror The ancient Romans believed that human life renewed itself in 7-year cycles (mirroring the cycles of the moon). Superstitious beliefs are everywhere on the planet and vary from all corners of the world. Nothing happened to me. Red represents happiness. White and black clothing are associated with death and grieving, so people will opt for colorful clothes befitting of celebration. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. For more insights on, check our guide onwhat to expect in Vietnamese Tet. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. When it is 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. Vietnamese people believe it is a bad misfortune to die away from home. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. Vietnamese also believe that a good combination of digits in their motorbike license plate or phone number can bring them good luck. Preparing the Deceased's Body Learn more about how incense is made. Even so, people continue to do so because they think it is something they can do for the people who gave birth to them or the people they are indebted to, giving them peace of mind. In Vietnams daily life, there are a lot of unusual things happening that no one can explain. 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. The priest then conducts a. 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. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". You don't dispute facts"(118). Family members hold constant vigil over the body. Interment of the deceased will follow at the site of burial. In the Vietnamese culture, as exemplified by these superstitions which my aunt picked up on from her own mother and other adult family friends, rituals surrounding the New Year are of utmost importance and not to be taken lightly. Due to this, expectant mums are encouraged to avoid funerals as they risk putting an omen on the grieving. 1. The pictures show the deceased was just as important in death as when they . If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. They will appreciate the opportunity to be open about their beliefs without offending you. This allows the soul to find its way home. She used to cook for 21 heads of state at APEC Danang 2017 and was introduced by famous chef Anthony Bourdain on CNN. Below are some common examples of Vietnamese superstitions. 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. meaning wealth, prosperity. Buyer must ponder days and nights before making a decision. The altar from home is placed on top of the gravesite. . You can see more of these irrational beliefs inchopsticks-using manners and gift-giving etiquettes in Vietnam. The word for the number 4 sounds much like the word for death. Burning incense is a way to respect the gods and the deceased relatives. Don't swear or fight. It is unclear where the rumor comes from. Gesture University of California Irvine. The belief that souls of the deceased live on after death and a funeral is critical to entering the afterlife. Comes with fortune-telling, there have to be remedies if the result of reading your destiny is bad. 3:00-5:00 p.m.: Be careful. 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. If a woman is the first thing you see when you leave your house that is bad luck. 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. 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.". Keeping an eye on what or who enters the house is also just as important. Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. These papers are known as "votive papers . Necklace, wrist, ring, whatever. 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. However, for Vietnamese, death-dreams are good luck! This clothes are made of very thin gauze textile so the dead person's family wears this clothes over their regular clothes. In an apartment complex, the door should not be placed opposite of the elevator because owners can feel like everyone is peeking inside their home, and the privacy of the family will be disturbed by outside energy. 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. The second way is decided by the compatibility of the guest and the homeowner based on their age and zodiac signs. 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