2. Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. Due to this. 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. 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. Vietnamese Sympathy Message. Gesture University of California Irvine. 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. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. 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. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide here. . Embalming and organ donation are acceptable in the Catholic faith. Death is just as much a part of life as is the reverse, a delicate interwoven tapestry. 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. The Chinese Vietnamese has a similar ritual where they burn and step over charcoal. The oldest grandchild or child is responsible for holding a framed image of the deceased along the way. #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), Breaking a bottle of fish sauce is bad luck. Do you find yourself throwing spilled salt over your shoulder without even stopping to consider why? Family members will burn fake items made of paper such as money, iPhones, jewelry, and cars. These gi days occur yearly or more often depending on religion and beliefs. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. In fact, some people prefer having cats as they dont need as much attention as dogs, making them perfect for the busy lives were now leading. While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. So, relish the nightmares! 7. 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. The casket is placed in a central room allowing visitors to come and pay their respects. What Do You Give at a Vietnamese Funeral? . It is unclear where the rumor comes from. Settle down with a house and a job is an immortal saying of the old Vietnamese. 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. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. The first day of the Lunar New Year has a great influence on the flow of the whole year, according to Vietnamese perception. Superstitions are more than persistent irrationality. So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes. 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. 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. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. If you had bad luck in your dreams, perhaps there is some counter-vailing good luck that will pop-up elsewhere in your life. 2013-2022 i Tour Vietnam | All Rights Reserved | contact: info@itourvn.com, MUI NE, DA LAT & NHA TRANG (6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS). Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. Here we focus on the largest two congregations and their funeral rites. Red is a symbol of luck and is used in most Vietnamese celebrations. The door is one of the most important aspects of feng shui in your home. Pass Under the Casket. Family members will wash and prepare the body before dressing the deceased in white clothing or semi-formal attire. Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. Many also choose to arrange the display as a wreath so that it can be draped over the coffin. O'brien shows how American soldiers order their experience by superstition rather than by rationality. However, the owner can change that by changing the arrangement of their home and surrounding environment according to feng shui to harness lucky energy. This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. Superstitions After Birth of Newborn Baby in Vietnam In Vietnamese customs, there are a lot of superstitions related to the newborn baby after birth. Relatives . 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. Funeral traditions in Vietnamese culture can vary based on religious beliefs. Influenced by Buddhism, many Chinese people believe that the souls of the dead stay and protect their descendants. Red is considered a lucky color because demons and evil spirits of legends were afraid of the color red. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! Check here for more exotic Vietnamese dishes. 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. 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. 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. Remember to only eat an odd number of eggs (1, 3, 5) and crush the eggshells when youve finished. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. 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. People hope for a better upcoming year when Tet arrives. Money. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. As such, it is holy and shouldnt be used by mere mortals. 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! 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. 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. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one's parents. For more insights on, check our guide onwhat to expect in Vietnamese Tet. Nowadays, though, a lot of dentists are recommending that these baby teeth are preserved. 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. There are many kinds of fortune-telling in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese really love fortune-telling. They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is avoided to the extent that buildings sometimes 'skip' the 4th floor, labelling it as the 5th, which can be confusing if you're deciphering levels in a . We participate in affiliate programs that allow us to earn a commission at no cost to you. While there are many superstitions in Vietnam about what can bring people bad luck like breaking a mirror and seeing a crow or black cat, Vietnamese have an arsenal of ways to get rid of misfortune as well. 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. This practice is known as Dot phong. 41 Surprisingly Fun Funeral Ideas To Celebrate A Life Lived, 21 Ideas What To Get Someone Whose Dog Died. 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. A tourist hotspot of South Central Vietnam, Lt is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and stunning mountainous views. To this end, key informants and focus group interviews were conducted with members of these ethnic groups, and significant differences among . The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. This is one of the popular Vietnamese superstitions New Year. Vietnamese Funeral Costume. 1:00-3:00 p.m.: You'll be safe and sound for whatever plans lie ahead of you. The event joins generations together in a commitment that extends beyond death. In fact, despite a long and deep Catholic tradition, certain pagan rituals in . There are a total of five feng shui elements: earth, air, fire, wood, and metal. Culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet is known as a culinary "ambassador" who is always dedicated to bringing Vietnamese traditions to the world. I'll just list a few. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall, Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their. During the wake period (usually three days), loved ones will keep constant vigil over the body. There are plenty of strange Italian superstitions, irrational beliefs and practices that all aim to ward off bad luck. 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. 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. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. 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. Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years . Today, both dogs and cats are well-loved by thousands of pet owners. Vietnamese believe that by cleaning the house during Tet, especially the first 3 days, they will sweep the good lucks and prosperity out of their home. Sometimes, people can also. Moreover, kids are often taught not to use chopsticks to hit their rice bowls. Qingming Festival is the day for descendants to worship their ancestors . Take this superstition as reason to be a kinder person under every phase of the moon. It begins with the preparation of the deceased's body that will be on display at the family home until it is time for the funeral. While you should refrain from cheerful behavior, this is consistent with any western funeral service. 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. They will appreciate the opportunity to be open about their beliefs without offending you. A majority of traditional Vietnamese funerals consist of three stages ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. My mothers younger sister, Thuy, told me about these superstitions while I was helping her prepare the food in the kitchen for our familys big Vietnamese New Year celebration at my grandmothers house. 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. Filipinos have folk beliefs for many aspects of life, but you'll be surprised at the sheer number of superstitions for funerals and wakes! 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. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. 6. 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. The priest then conducts a. 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. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. 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