Every culture has its superstitions. These papers are known as "votive papers . . 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. You can see more of these irrational beliefs inchopsticks-using manners and gift-giving etiquettes in Vietnam. 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. As Vietnamese funerals will likely have some unique customs, you should respectfully observe them and feel no pressure to engage. on the first day of the lunar new year. Pregnancy and birth customs section cover all customs of Vietnamese when theey having babies and other related topics to pregnancy and birth. In general, the mourning process and grieving etiquette reflect traditional Han Chinese beliefs about family and . The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. . However, some have roots deeply integrated in our culture that theyve become a part of Vietnamese social etiquette. You don't dispute facts"(118). And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. 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. However, for Vietnamese, death-dreams are good luck! Vietnam has many customs involving superstitious activities. It is believed that by doing so, youd sweep out the good luck that the new year brings. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. 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. People, especially the female, will go to fortune-tellers (thay boi) and see their luck in the relationship with family members, love life, and work or business progress in the next year. The Vietnamese believe when you see one that means someone, especially those who are close to you, is going to die. 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. The second way is decided by the compatibility of the guest and the homeowner based on their age and zodiac signs. This is particularly true if you are not of Vietnamese ethnicity yourself. meaning wealth, prosperity. The majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than buried. , telling them its a gift thatll help them learn how to swim. In Vietnam, it is common for the deceased to remain at home after their death until the funeral. 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. Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. This is because I wasn't born in Vietnam and I didn't know about . Those prone to waterworks may compromise the future success of their children. In the past, a Vietnamese funeral could last up to a month or more. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. A bowl of rice filled to the brim is said to be for the dead and should not be served to the living It is unclear where the rumor comes from. 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. This is due to a range of beliefs such as the risk of the deceaseds spirit entering the baby, or the mourning causing the child to be a crier following birth. A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from taking group pictures in which there are three people in the frame. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. 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. Vietnamese Buddhist Funeral Customs (49 days). As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. Tet or Vietnamese New Year's, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnam. 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. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. 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. Considered "windows to the soul," many superstitions involve the eyes of the deceased, such as placing coins on the eyelids of . 1. Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . Red represents happiness. Do you stop each day at 11:11 to make a wish? These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. In Vietnamese superstitions, people believe that their house comes with a history and negative or positive energy of their own. Except for blood, probably. When we take pictures of funerals or wakes, it's not to be macabre but more like a quiet reverence. To guarantee a luckier new year, people follow superstitious beliefs. Remember to only eat an odd number of eggs (1, 3, 5) and crush the eggshells when youve finished. In line with tradition, immediate family members are expected to wear white and adorn matching headbands. i Tour Vietnam | Top-rated private Ho Chi Minh City tours and Vietnam travel guides. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! Very superstitious. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide here. The priest then conducts a. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. A tourist hotspot of South Central Vietnam, Lt is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and stunning mountainous views. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their hoomans, and thus their arrival is associated with positive things coming. The following are some popular superstitions in Vietnam that can amaze you. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". This extends from the belief that loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. Superstition and belief are still large parts of daily Vietnamese life. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. The belief may have to do with an idea of luck and "balance": good luck somewhere is balanced by bad luck elsehwere. List. Qingming Festival is the day for descendants to worship their ancestors . 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. Four is unlucky as it sounds like the word for death or suffering. Their origins may surprise you. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions. Fear of the number 9 is known as enneaphobia, in Japanese culture; this is because it sounds like the . So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes have a dragonfly bite their belly buttons, telling them its a gift thatll help them learn how to swim. . Nothing happened to me. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. While there are some fortune-telling methods seeming to use logical reasoning in the reading, but most of them are based on no actual scientific proof or solid pieces of evidence. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. The number 9. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. The first person who enters the house on the first day of Vietnamese New Year can bring good or bad luck to that household. Whistle at night will attract snakes. Most likely, its just a random act our forefathers came up with as a placebo to help boost our confidence and alleviate our fear of water. 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 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 Eveif your age is not compatible. Pass Under the Casket. Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? The deceased is viewed with similar reverence to the living and so the same norms for taking pictures apply. If youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. Japanese, and Korean languages, the number sounds like the word for "death". Of course, this is often taken lightheartedly as a simple little act to hope for good luck on the big day. They believe that everything must be cleaned before this day arrives as a tardy cleanse can sweep away all of the family's good luck and prosperity. Regardless of customs, the focus of the service is to respectfully farewell a loved one. 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 contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. 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. By firing a piece of paper or some incense and flinching to anywhere perceived to be haunted while murmuring spells, the folk thinks they are saved from being affected. However, it is a custom of the country that people dont clean their homes during the time because sweeping dirt means throwing away fortune. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. They will usually adorn white clothing or shrouds as well. Stay updated with the latest news of the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and information for traveling to Vietnam. Hey your article is pretty cool. 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. 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. Speaking of superstitions related to eating, in Vietnam, a lot of students avoid having eggs in their diet in the days leading up to a big exam. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. What Do You Give at a Vietnamese Funeral? In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. Embalming, burial, organ donation, and medical donation of the body are acceptable in the Buddhist faith.
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