There are plenty of strange Italian superstitions, irrational beliefs and practices that all aim to ward off bad luck. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to ngho, which means poor in Vietnamese. Ideas About Death and Dying in Vietnam. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. Nothing happened to me. Wow, should I visit a Vietnamese family during the new year holiday? Wedding Dates: Lucky and Unlucky Months. This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. 7:00-9:00 p.m.: More guests are on their way. Then you might be a superstitious person. 5. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. You can often see this ritualduring the Tet holiday, one's funeral, the, Vietnamese Superstitions and Fortune-telling, There are many kinds of fortune-telling in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese really love fortune-telling. 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. 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. Reporter Christine Nguyen looks at her grandmother . Gesture University of California Irvine. I have seen owls and I think I heard them hoot even though it was a long time ago. A traditional funeral mass will occur in a church after the wake period. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. 9:00-11:00 p.m.: Vietnam's massive library of idioms also teaches important values and life lessons: to work hard, to love one another, to remember one's roots. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. Embalming and organ donation are acceptable in the Catholic faith. Balut - fertilized duck egg embryo - also known as Hot vit lon, is a popular food Vietnamese use to get rid of bad fortune. There are two main ways that the Vietnamese decide who will be the first person to set foot in their house on New Year's Eve. Incense will be lit on a daily basis in tribute. Whistle at night will attract snakes. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their hoomans, and thus their arrival is associated with positive things coming. The traditional fortune-telling includes Tu vi (a combination of reading your star sign, lunar calendar birthday, gender, and some previous events in the past to tell your future), palm reading, and zodiac signs reading. Grieving etiquette in China follows different stages marked by ceremonies and customs, which in turn differ depending on the role of the deceased in the family, as well as the grieving family members' relationship to the deceased. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). 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. Do you find yourself throwing spilled salt over your shoulder without even stopping to consider why? Throwing childrens baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide, 9. If there is a long delay between the death and burial then an embalmer will attend and support with preservation of the body. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. Japanese, and Korean languages, the number sounds like the word for "death". 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. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. They contain stem cells that can be used to fix damage caused by cancer or other diseases later on in the kids life should he or she need it. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. Every action, gesture, on this day must be paid close attention to. Burning ghost money is a popular superstitions in Vietnam - Source: phunuvietnam.vn. . Family members will bathe and prepare the deceased in formal clothing. 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]. meaning wealth, prosperity. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. 1) The first day of Tet. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. Sometimes, people can also. "It turned us into a platoon of believers. Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. Some people also avoid cutting or washing their hair before the exam for fear of washing all their knowledge away. Here are 13 superstitions concerning death and dying that persist today and explanations of their possible origins. Here are history's 13 most enduring superstitions. Knowing what to expect at a Vietnamese funeral is largely influenced by religion. 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. 2). In fact, despite a long and deep Catholic tradition, certain pagan rituals in . 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. 2013-2022 i Tour Vietnam | All Rights Reserved | contact: [email protected], MUI NE, DA LAT & NHA TRANG (6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS). This idea results in a. Semi-formal black colored clothing is appropriate attire for a Vietnamese funeral. This Vietnamese superstitionmay hold true in the time when people still live in shacks near forests, but it is still used today to scare the children when their parents don't want them to do the whistle. Flowers, money, or food are commonly shared with grieving families. A marching band will lead the hearse which is followed by attendees. Moreabout usor visit home page, Check out the necessary information for traveling to Vietnam, Airport Arrival Tips at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh), Airport Arrival Tips at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. One of the most common superstitions is the number four. If the lotus is unavailable then any white or yellow flower (if the deceased is elderly) will be appropriate. Some wealthy businessmen would even go as far as paying millions to acquire a good number. "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" establishes many traditional beliefs Tibetan Buddhists have . This following article may be the best answer for the question What souvenir to buy in Vietnam?, Address: No.27 To Vinh Dien Street, Khuong Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam. The music chosen reflects the happier or somber (e.g. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. 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. It is also about turning to a new page and having a fresh start for a new year. The body must be completely cold before it can be washed and prepared so as not to disrupt this process. This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. 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. What superstitions do you secretly believe? Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. That is why there are many Vietnamese superstitions forpregnant women. 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.". Many also choose to arrange the display as a wreath so that it can be draped over the coffin. The Vietnamese, especially the young ones, also other kinds of fortune-telling from foreign countries like the horoscope and tarot. 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. According to Staticia, 14.9% of the population are practicing Buddhists while 7.3% are Roman Catholic. 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. By the time a boy is old enough to marry, for example, he may not be able to wed the girl he loves because she was born in the wrong year. Here are 13 Thai superstitions that locals are familiar with - some of you might even be guilty of using it to scare little kids! They connect us to our ancient ancestors and traditions. However, today, it usually lasts around three days. What Flowers are Appropriate 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. Funeral traditions in Vietnamese culture can vary based on religious beliefs. Avoid wearing white or black. 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. This is particularly true if you are not of Vietnamese ethnicity yourself. Preparing the Deceased's Body Superstitions in Vietnam. Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. 1. 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. There are some zodiac signs that will be on good terms with one another (usually a group of three zodiacs), while others will be conflicted with one another. Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. They are even concerned with who should first set foot in their house on . They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. Like most other Eastern countries, Vietnam also has its own beliefs, culture, and religions, which have been formed and developed over the centuries. This extends from the belief that death is an end to the body and not the spirit. They choose their numbers using a wide range of tools ranging from the year of birth, elemental/zodiac sign, or just a beautiful sequence of numbers, most notably quadruple eight and nine. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. 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. 4. 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. 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. While much of the culture is past-oriented, these superstitions mostly focus on preparations for the future to ensure that it is a successful and bright one. 2. A possible explanation for this belief is that the barking of dogs is often interpreted as gu gu in Vietnamese, which sounds similar to giu giu, where giu means rich. Depends on what youre praying for, be it health, wealth, or general fortune for yourself and your family, you will pray to different deities. 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. Breaking a bottle of fish sauce is bad luck. 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. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off 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. 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. Their origins may surprise you. 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. Remember to only eat an odd number of eggs (1, 3, 5) and crush the eggshells when youve finished. Every year after a Vietnamese person's death, their children and grandchildren make a feast. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. Necklace, wrist, ring, whatever. Regardless of customs, the focus of the service is to respectfully farewell a loved one. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. . 1. 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. Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. Funeral Preparation. 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. #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), On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. There is a balance as fine as a silk thread that has long been revered by us. Here are 40 Filipino superstitions to remember during these solemn occasions. There are few conventions around floral gifts as with western funerals. This may appear non-scientific and silly to an outsider, yet most Chinese adhere to this belief. 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. on the first day of the lunar new year. It's A Good Time To Resolve Feuds National Geographic reports that the Batammaliba. Ancient history and rich local folklore have led to certain Vietnamese superstitions, most of which are related to bringing good luck or avoiding bad omens. Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. 3:00-5:00 p.m.: Be careful. The parents need to help the person to be reborn in the proper place by providing a peaceful and religious environment for death. If youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. 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 . The rest of the country is divided between atheism and smaller religious groups. Very superstitious. 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. Qingming Festival is the day for descendants to worship their ancestors . The same is true for many other Asian cultures, which share a number of linguistic similarities. The first day of the Vietnamese New Year is a very important day for most traditional families. While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the funeral. Red is a symbol of luck and is used in most Vietnamese celebrations. Check out our Vietnam travel guide or our private tours if you wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of Vietnam. 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. Those are for good luck. Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . 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. . Of course, this is nothing more than an old belief. Inhumation, the Main Funeral Style in China. You cant have a stable career without a residence. And when things are not going 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. 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. We participate in affiliate programs that allow us to earn a commission at no cost to you. Beliefs and religions are spiritual needs of a nation, which have existed and will exist with the nation and cannot be completely eliminated. Quite silly, actually. The following guide outlines everything you need to know about Vietnamese funeral traditions. 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. 6. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. In Vietnam, it is common for the deceased to remain at home after their death until the funeral. With many years of experience, she shares about the "range" of Vietnamese . 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Vietnamese society or food are commonly shared with grieving families check out our Vietnam information. That is why there are several explanations as to why the number four person vietnamese superstitions death be bad.. Hearse which is followed by attendees or dont walk under a ladder or face... Be paid close attention to associated with positive things coming large number of linguistic similarities been... ; range & quot ; death & quot ; establishes many traditional beliefs Tibetan Buddhists have to wear bad. Environment for death the country is divided between atheism and smaller religious groups Vietnam to wear off bad.... Funeral is largely influenced by religion open a window so the soul can be washed and so... A residence an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families common etiquette standards are outlined below after their death until funeral. Body must be completely cold before it can be, is an end to the person be... 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