There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Vietnamese people think that it is a lucky . It is believed that by doing so, youd sweep out the good luck that the new year brings. To this end, key informants and focus group interviews were conducted with members of these ethnic groups, and significant differences among . Both the paint color as well as furniture inside the house should be compatible with the owners elements. Many of those in Vietnam, as elsewhere in Asia, revolve around people's physical features. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. "It turned us into a platoon of believers. As an old Vietnamese saying put it, a dog coming into your house signifies good fortune. Especially red envelope money. 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. 2. If the deceased will be cremated, then this is likely to be a final aspect of the service. Depends on what youre praying for, be it health, wealth, or general fortune for yourself and your family, you will pray to different deities. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine, votive paper, lighting candles and burning incense before praying in front of the altar. 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. Ancestral worship which includes the use of an altar with pictures, incense, and various food offerings is an example of this. 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. 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. 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. Check here for more exotic Vietnamese dishes. More distant relatives such as grandchildren may wear yellow headbands. 2013-2022 i Tour Vietnam | All Rights Reserved | contact: info@itourvn.com, MUI NE, DA LAT & NHA TRANG (6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS). Most funeral rites are performed in the presence of the body. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. As a courtesy, ensure that your phone remains silent when in use. Vietnamese superstitions, meanwhile, are vast and deeply embedded in people's psyche. 4. Every year after a Vietnamese person's death, their children and grandchildren make a feast. Here are history's 13 most enduring superstitions. 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. The family of the deceased will prepare a banquet to share and visit the grave of their loved one to pray. Check out our, This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. More. What Do You Wear to a Vietnamese Funeral? Preparing the Deceased's Body 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. 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. A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. The second story tells the tale of a Goddess who was responsible for cooking for Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor, King of the Heaven) but always tasted his meals first. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). Superstitions are more than persistent irrationality. It is unclear where the rumor comes from. Filipinos have folk beliefs for many aspects of life, but you'll be surprised at the sheer number of superstitions for funerals and wakes! Of course, this is nothing more than an old belief. The casket is placed in a central room allowing visitors to come and pay their respects. 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. A rosary is placed in the persons hands. 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. Most Chinese people believe that burial brings peace to the deceased, so they follow the tradition of inhumation. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions. . In fact, despite a long and deep Catholic tradition, certain pagan rituals in . Leaving a small knife on the stomach of the deceased to prevent bad spirits from entering the body. According to Vietnamese superstitions, whenever you seem to have too much misfortune in your life, youre being shadowed by a spirit. 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. That is why there are many Vietnamese superstitions forpregnant women. 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. A series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time if the deceased was religious. 6. Some wealthy businessmen would even go as far as paying millions to acquire a good number. 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. 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. Older Vietnamese people may prefer to be at home at the end of life with . Of course, this is often taken lightheartedly as a simple little act to hope for good luck on the big day. If you wish to learn more about Vietnamese Tt traditions and customs, check out our previous article here. on the first day of the lunar new year. 1. Gesture University of California Irvine. 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. The first customer of the day will determine whether it is a good or bad day for business. Displays of wealth are not appropriate during the funeral. I don't believe in this superstition. Every action, gesture, on this day must be paid close attention to. Just as an old Vietnamese proverb goes Co kieng co lanh, which can be roughly translated to There is no worship without sacredness, there are no taboos without luck. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. Swimming is a useful and, in many situations, a life-saving skill thats best learnt at a young age. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide, 9. They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. Then, placing the shirt back into the coffin to complete the ritual. Throwing childrens baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed. i Tour Vietnam | Top-rated private Ho Chi Minh City tours and Vietnam travel guides. At the site of interment, final prayers are made before the burial or cremation. 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. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. Phm Cng Sn, (1996) a Vietnamese anthropologist, said, "Death is not the end but is the final stage of one life to be transformed into another." He also asserted that death rituals provide the bereaved with a chance to fulfill their filial obligations to the deceased. This extends from the belief that loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. A simple line such as Im deeply sorry for your loss is appropriate. Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. The event joins generations together in a commitment that extends beyond death. Family members hold constant vigil over the body. Vietnamese Buddhist Funeral Customs (49 days). These papers are known as "votive papers . Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. 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. The majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than buried. Moreover, too many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire. In Vietnams daily life, there are a lot of unusual things happening that no one can explain. And It's so great to share all things I know about Vietnam to you. The reason for this tradition can be explained by the name of the dish itself. Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news. 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. The most gifted funeral flower in Vietnamese culture is the white lotus. In Japan and Korea, for instance, the word for the 4 and the word for death are . I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. 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. Regardless of customs, the focus of the service is to respectfully farewell a loved one. Culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet is known as a culinary "ambassador" who is always dedicated to bringing Vietnamese traditions to the world. . This allows the soul to find its way home. They are even concerned with who should first set foot in their house on . 7. Vietnam has many customs involving superstitious activities. 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. 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.". Wow, should I visit a Vietnamese family during the new year holiday? 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. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. 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. The science originated in China but soon imported in Vietnam and became popular even until now. 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. Generally, Vietnamese good luck symbols are of Chinese origin. This superstitions list includes a lot of pretty common false beliefs that many superstitious people will recognize. 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. It is important to learn about them so as to avoid upsetting people by mistake. Due to this. Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. 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. The number four gets its bad name because it sounds like "death" in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from taking group pictures in which there are three people in the frame. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral usually provide gifts as a gesture of sympathy. is a common ritual that they often perform to shoo bad luck off. A marching band will lead the hearse which is followed by attendees. This is because I wasn't born in Vietnam and I didn't know about . With many years of experience, she shares about the "range" of Vietnamese . 2. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. While some people are avid believers, a large majority of Vietnamese people remain indifferent to these views. Your luck for the entire year depends on the first visitor. Choosing a lucky wedding date is probably the most important step in Chinese wedding planning. 4. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Burning votive paper. 1:00-3:00 p.m.: You'll be safe and sound for whatever plans lie ahead of you. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. 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. Embalming, burial, organ donation, and medical donation of the body are acceptable in the Buddhist faith. 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. Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. These somewhat uncustomary views or actions arise from cultural beliefs, with some including: Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. 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. 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. This idea results in a Vietnam superstition which is burning a bamboo spill (a piece of paper) to drive ill spirits away. Customers buying a lot is considered a good sign and vice versa. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. This represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one's parents. Can I Take Photos at a Vietnamese Funeral? This does not impact our reviews as our values are to remain objective. 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. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. 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. Hey your article is pretty cool. When in doubt, observe how the family behaves during the funeral and be guided by them. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in, 10. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. One of the Vietnamese superstitions of buying a house is judging the home's direction. 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. Do not sing in the kitchen or you'll get an old husband. 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. 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