. 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. 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. Below are some common examples of Vietnamese superstitions. Quite silly, actually. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. 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. However, a house, a building is such a valuable property that can be taken as granted. 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. 2. In Vietnam, reading. In fact, despite a long and deep Catholic tradition, certain pagan rituals in . bowls of rice, fruit, and tea). Don't swear or fight. 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. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Hold the door open. 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. Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall, Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. , check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! There are a total of five feng shui elements: earth, air, fire, wood, and metal. It is unclear where the rumor comes from. 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 . Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. 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. 9:00-11:00 a.m.: Get ready to party! They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. Every action, gesture, on this day must be paid close attention to. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. The first customer of the day will determine whether it is a good or bad day for business. Burning votive paper. This idea results in a Vietnam superstition which is burning a bamboo spill (a piece of paper) to drive ill spirits away. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. I am very sorry for your loss Ti rt tic v s mt mt ca bn, May the soul of (name of deceased) rest in peace Cu mong linh hn ca (tn ngi khut) c yn ngh, I am here if you need anything Ti y nu bn cn bt c iu g, Hope you and your family will overcome this pain Mong bn v gia nh s vt qua ni au ny, My condolences to you and your family Ti xin gi li chia bun ti bn v gia nh, (Name of deceased) is resting with the lord (Tn ngi khut) ang yn ngh vi cha. If you are a man, subtract 10 from the final result, and add 5 if you are a woman. It is during this time that they share food and toast to celebrate the deceaseds life. A funeral service is held on or just before the final day. 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. They come as they please and leave as they see fit, so their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune. i Tour Vietnam | Top-rated private Ho Chi Minh City tours and Vietnam travel guides. Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. 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! Embalming, burial, organ donation, and medical donation of the body are acceptable in the Buddhist faith. Except for blood, probably. 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Lots of eating and drinking lies ahead. Just like the horoscope or zodiac sign, your element is also decided based on your year of birth. Do not sing in the kitchen or you'll get an old husband. Hence, there are some things, some actions that they consider good and of course, some are seen as bad, that need avoiding. As such, it is holy and shouldnt be used by mere mortals. Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. The death anniversary is an expression of Vietnamese identity and values in a world where traditions inevitably change. 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. You don't dispute facts"(118). According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, once removed. 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. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. 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. This superstitions list includes a lot of pretty common false beliefs that many superstitious people will recognize. The funeral occurring at a random time and day. That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. In Vietnams daily life, there are a lot of unusual things happening that no one can explain. Superstitions After Birth of Newborn Baby in Vietnam In Vietnamese customs, there are a lot of superstitions related to the newborn baby after birth. 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. These gi days occur yearly or more often depending on religion and beliefs. With many years of experience, she shares about the "range" of Vietnamese . In Vietnam passing a funeral or a bat is good luck. The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. . Many Buddhist funeral ceremonies extend over a long period of time to assist the spirit of the deceased in transition. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. This clothes are made of very thin gauze textile so the dead person's family wears this clothes over their regular clothes. So, relish the nightmares! It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one's parents. At sunrise or very early on the final day, a procession to transport the coffin to a gravesite or crematory will occur. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. 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. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. Gesture University of California Irvine. 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. . Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years . Incense will be lit on a daily basis in tribute. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Anything red. This does not impact our reviews as our values are to remain objective. on the first day of the lunar new year. 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. This is particularly true if you are not of Vietnamese ethnicity yourself. 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. The Vietnamese, especially the young ones, also other kinds of fortune-telling from foreign countries like the horoscope and tarot. 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. They pray and give offerings to ancestors to show respect, something beautiful and healthy. 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. Like most other Eastern countries, Vietnam also has its own beliefs, culture, and religions, which have been formed and developed over the centuries. 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. 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. However, there are many people who are completely delusional and blindly believe in these things, harming not only themselves but also those around them. A bowl of rice filled to the brim is said to be for the dead and should not be served to the living To make sure the soul finds its coffin, the monk or the shaman will wave the deceased's shirt towards four directions while saying out loud ba hn by va (for male) or ba hn chn va (for female). 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. Dogs bring good luck, cats bring bad luck, Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. 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. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. They connect us to our ancient ancestors and traditions. This is because I wasn't born in Vietnam and I didn't know about . And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. 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. The most gifted funeral flower in Vietnamese culture is the white lotus. A friendly or enemy commander may refuse to attack or may alter his strategy if the stars are not in his favor. . I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! We're not kidding. 4. Here are 13 Thai superstitions that locals are familiar with - some of you might even be guilty of using it to scare little kids! 6. The first day of the Vietnamese New Year is a very important day for most traditional families. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. Considered "windows to the soul," many superstitions involve the eyes of the deceased, such as placing coins on the eyelids of . You cant have a stable career without a residence. Superstition has been known to determine the conduct of the war in this ravaged country. While offerings will be much appreciated, do not feel pressured to give anything as your presence will be welcome enough. In feng shui law, your personal lucky number is. Traditional Vietnamese funerals are multi-day events that last anywhere from one to three days or more. Every year after a Vietnamese person's death, their children and grandchildren make a feast. 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. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in fengshui. As Vietnamese funerals will likely have some unique customs, you should respectfully observe them and feel no pressure to engage. Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. 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. 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. Therefore, normally families will determine a person who is successful, generous, sociable, and healthy and send an invitation to him or her and note that they are the first caller of their home. 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. 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. Just as people from other countries have their own tales of tooth fairies, we Vietnamese also have our own way to deal with our baby teeth when they come off. 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. Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. You may lose money. Moreover, too many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire. 30. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. Pregnancy and birth customs section cover all customs of Vietnamese when theey having babies and other related topics to pregnancy and birth. Funeral traditions in Vietnamese culture can vary based on religious beliefs. Older Vietnamese people may prefer to be at home at the end of life with . The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). This usually includes a wake, mass or prayer service, and burial or cremation. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. But all in all the best method to cultivate good fortune is to do as many good deeds as you can. Gold coins and rice are placed in the mouth of the deceased during the preparation of the body. Customers buying a lot is considered a good sign and vice versa. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. Reasons? In Vietnam, a death anniversary is viewed as a celebration of life and a festive occasion. On the 12-year lunar calendar commonly used throughout Asia, many of the years are considered incompatible. is a common ritual that they often perform to shoo bad luck off. Japanese, and Korean languages, the number sounds like the word for "death". Whistle at night will attract snakes. More. Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck This is just for Buddhists though. Everyone should be on their best behavior during Tet towards neighbors, friends and family. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. Vietnamese Sympathy Message. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. If the pot doesn't break, it means there'll be another death in the family soon. 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. Placement of an oil lamp under the coffin during the wake will keep the spirit warm. The number four gets its bad name because it sounds like "death" in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai. 5. This extends from the belief that loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their, 8. 2). The second way is decided by the compatibility of the guest and the homeowner based on their age and zodiac signs. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. 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. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. Superstition and belief are still large parts of daily Vietnamese life. Many of those in Vietnam, as elsewhere in Asia, revolve around people's physical features. 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. 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