That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. Breaking a bottle of fish sauce is bad luck. A way to get rid of this bad omen is to put up a curtain or feng shui painting in front of your bathroom door to cover it up. Quite silly, actually. They connect us to our ancient ancestors and traditions. According to Vietnamese superstitions, whenever you seem to have too much misfortune in your life, youre being shadowed by a spirit. I have seen owls and I think I heard them hoot even though it was a long time ago. According to the law of feng shui, the door is a gateway for luck or misfortune to your home. Therefore, buying a house is a basic need for everyone. 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. Owls are bad omens. List. 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. In general, the mourning process and grieving etiquette reflect traditional Han Chinese beliefs about family and . Following the interment, family and guests will return to the home for a meal or funeral reception. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. The belief that souls of the deceased live on after death and a funeral is critical to entering the afterlife. Nothing happened to me. 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. For example, in the year of the dog, if your zodiac sign is a horse, a dog, or a tiger, you will bound to be in big trouble. 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. If you wish to learn more about Vietnamese, traditions and customs, check out our previous article, A bowl of rice filled to the brim is said to be for the dead and should not be served to the living. Every action, gesture, on this day must be paid close attention to. The number four gets its bad name because it sounds like "death" in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai. Semi-formal black colored clothing is appropriate attire for a Vietnamese funeral. 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. We participate in affiliate programs that allow us to earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more about how incense is made. For example, pregnant moms must refuse to attend funerals because these are the gathering places of miasma which can threaten the life of the fetus. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. However, make sure that the number of incense you use is always odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) when making offerings to ancestors or Buddhist deities. Therefore, it's bad luck to carry a corpse home. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. 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. The Vietnamese believe when you see one that means someone, especially those who are close to you, is going to die. 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. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. 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. Vietnamese Sympathy Message. 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. Can I Take Photos at a Vietnamese Funeral? Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. 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. Like most other Eastern countries, Vietnam also has its own beliefs, culture, and religions, which have been formed and developed over the centuries. Superstitions are more than persistent irrationality. When we take pictures of funerals or wakes, it's not to be macabre but more like a quiet reverence. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! 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. The head of the family is the firm shoulder to other members to rely on, hence choosing the direction that is suitable for the breadwinner is the best. According to Staticia, 14.9% of the population are practicing Buddhists while 7.3% are Roman Catholic. . Below are some common examples of Vietnamese superstitions. 2). Choosing a lucky wedding date is probably the most important step in Chinese wedding planning. Especially red envelope money. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. In Vietnam passing a funeral or a bat is good luck. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. Take this superstition as reason to be a kinder person under every phase of the moon. The first customer of the day will determine whether it is a good or bad day for business. Couples going to Lt together will break up. Knowing what to expect at a Vietnamese funeral is largely influenced by religion. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. Some people just see them as things to remember in life, but there are people who follow them as if they were the ultimate law of the universe. First of all, we do not fill our bowl to the brim with only one big scoop of rice, and it is also frowned upon to plunge chopsticks straight down into the rice bowl. If the pot doesn't break, it means there'll be another death in the family soon. As an old Vietnamese saying put it, a dog coming into your house signifies good fortune. 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. My aunts superstitions still remain incredibly significant to her identity, shaping the way she lives life each day and permanently influencing her beliefs. Not having sufficient knowledge, faith or trust in scientific methods, a Vietnamese often relies on his prejudices, emotions and the word of his forefathers to guide his daily life. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. In general, it can be viewed as offensive or bad luck for an expectant mother to attend a Vietnamese funeral. Do we need to give money at a Vietnamese funeral? A funeral service is held on or just before the final day. While you should refrain from cheerful behavior, this is consistent with any western funeral service. 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. This symbolizes the pure cyclical nature of life. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. These usually occur a week after death, and then on the 49th and 100th day. Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . 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. In Vietnam, a death anniversary is viewed as a celebration of life and a festive occasion. They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. 2). Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. 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. If he or she is happy and rich the whole year that household will be happy and prosperous. It is unclear where the rumor comes from. Despite the fact that there is disapproval of superstitious practices from the government, most Vietnamese still have strong deep-rooted beliefs in superstitions that were set by our ancestors long ago. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their, 8. They come as they please and leave as they see fit, so their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune. 3:00-5:00 p.m.: Be careful. 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. The following are some examples: After a death, windows were closed so the deceased's soul could not fly out. The same is true for many other Asian cultures, which share a number of linguistic similarities. When Ngoc Hoang found out about this act, he punished her by turning her into a broom and forced her to work all year long, only allowing her to rest in the first 3 days of Tet. However, you are best placed to avoid red flowers as this color is reserved for happy occasions such as the new year. 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. If you hear the hoot of an owl, it's certain death. They pray and give offerings to ancestors to show respect, something beautiful and healthy. White and black clothing are associated with death and grieving, so people will opt for colorful clothes befitting of celebration. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. There isnt any scientific proof to back up this claim, but its still a story passed down from one generation to the next, especially in rural areas near rivers. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. As such, it is holy and shouldnt be used by mere mortals. 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. Older Vietnamese people may prefer to be at home at the end of life with . 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. However, the owner can change that by changing the arrangement of their home and surrounding environment according to feng shui to harness lucky energy. 9:00-11:00 p.m.: Those attending a Vietnamese funeral usually provide gifts as a gesture of sympathy. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine, votive paper, lighting candles and burning incense before praying in front of the altar. Embalming and organ donation are acceptable in the Catholic faith. Depending on religious beliefs, many of the Vietnamese culture believes that souls live on after death, but especially that a person should die in their home surrounded by his family. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. Tet or Vietnamese New Year's, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnam. 1. 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. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. Here we focus on the largest two congregations and their funeral rites. In Chinese culture, the reason behind the superstition surrounding the number 4 lies in the way it sounds. 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. , check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in fengshui. When she is not trying to configure websites, Kate can be found walking in nature with a coffee firmly in hand. While some people are avid believers, a large majority of Vietnamese people remain indifferent to these views. 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