The death anniversary is an expression of Vietnamese identity and values in a world where traditions inevitably change. Don't swear or fight. 1. 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. Family members that die a bad (violent) death are more likely to be a bitter spirit than those that die a good death. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in, 10. White and black clothing are associated with death and grieving, so people will opt for colorful clothes befitting of celebration. "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" establishes many traditional beliefs Tibetan Buddhists have . If youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. Settle down with a house and a job is an immortal saying of the old Vietnamese. If the deceased will be cremated, then this is likely to be a final aspect of the service. 1. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. This practice is known as Dot phonglong. In fact, incense burning is a prominent part of Vietnamese funerals. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. The belief that souls of the deceased live on after death and a funeral is critical to entering the afterlife. Some wealthy businessmen would even go as far as paying millions to acquire a good number. If you purchase at an early stage, the child will leave you. Even though most people believe that everything is numbered, they are still curious about their destiny and find horoscope masters to get informed and ask for advice. This extends from the belief that death is an end to the body and not the spirit. Remove a Corpse From a House Feet-first. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. The science originated in China but soon imported in Vietnam and became popular even until now. 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. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. 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. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. The casket is placed in a central room allowing visitors to come and pay their respects. 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. That is why there are many Vietnamese superstitions forpregnant women. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. 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. A majority of traditional Vietnamese funerals consist of three stages ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Ancestral worship which includes the use of an altar with pictures, incense, and various food offerings is an example of this. 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. Death is just as much a part of life as is the reverse, a delicate interwoven tapestry. Discover some South-East Asian superstitions that our Destination Specialists have come across on their travels. Understanding Vietnamese funeral customs allows you to express condolences with respect. Any of the Four Symbols. One story has it that an American commander always consulted a Vietnamese astrologer before planning the deployment of his troops. Flowers, money, or food are commonly shared with grieving families. Most Chinese people believe that burial brings peace to the deceased, so they follow the tradition of inhumation. The number 9. The oldest grandchild or child is responsible for holding a framed image of the deceased along the way. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. 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. Funeral traditions in Vietnamese culture can vary based on religious beliefs. Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to ngho, which means poor in Vietnamese. Following the interment, family and guests will return to the home for a meal or funeral reception. Especially red envelope money. One thing I'll always remember when I cook with my grandma is her telling me, "Don't sing in the kitchen if you don't want to get an old husband Family members hold constant vigil over the body. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. These gi days occur yearly or more often depending on religion and beliefs. It's A Good Time To Resolve Feuds National Geographic reports that the Batammaliba. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. 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. Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. Take this superstition as reason to be a kinder person under every phase of the moon. This clothes are made of very thin gauze textile so the dead person's family wears this clothes over their regular clothes. Couples going to Lt together will break up. 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. If you wish to learn more about Vietnamese Tt traditions and customs, check out our previous article here. Buyer must ponder days and nights before making a decision. As a courtesy, ensure that your phone remains silent when in use. North and South Vietnam have different approaches). 2. 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. Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news. , check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! 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. This represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in fengshui. 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. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. 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. If you hear the hoot of an owl, it's certain death. 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. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. 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. A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from taking group pictures in which there are three people in the frame. If he or she is happy and rich the whole year that household will be happy and prosperous. Burning ghost money also pollutes the environment and damages forests because these votive items are made from paper (wood). How Businesses Can Use Colors As such, it is holy and shouldnt be used by mere mortals. The music chosen reflects the happier or somber (e.g. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. Then you might be a superstitious person. that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. In line with tradition, immediate family members are expected to wear white and adorn matching headbands. 2). This is a list of signs believed to bring bad luck according to superstitions. It is important to learn about them so as to avoid upsetting people by mistake. 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. This practice is known as Dot phong. You may lose money. to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. One of the Vietnamese superstitions of buying a house is judging the home's direction. Yet, it is also known for a rumor: As such, dont let the rumors stop you from visiting this beautiful city with your significant other. 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. When it is the funeral,the anniversary of the death or big holidays, they will burn a couple of ghost money and paper items in the hope that their ancestors or deceased people can receive them. 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. Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . You don't dispute facts"(118). Some people possess "good spirits" which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. It is used as a lucky color for wrapping gifts, including red envelopes. The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. 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. Funeral Preparation. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. In feng shui law, your personal lucky number iscalculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. . Of course, this is often taken lightheartedly as a simple little act to hope for good luck on the big day. Still, when it comes to their childrens well-being, its understandable that a lot of parents would rather be safe than sorry. There are many kinds of fortune-telling in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese really love fortune-telling. However, for Vietnamese, death-dreams are good luck! This is just for Buddhists though. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. Many Buddhist funeral ceremonies extend over a long period of time to assist the spirit of the deceased in transition. In feng shui law, your personal lucky number is. Generally, Vietnamese good luck symbols are of Chinese origin. 9:00-11:00 a.m.: Get ready to party! The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). You may wonder how the residence looks without being unclustered. The sellers often do this when a customer comes and leaves without buying anything first thing in the morning as they believe the customer has brought bad spirits to the shop. 1:00-3:00 p.m.: You'll be safe and sound for whatever plans lie ahead of you. Most of the time, the body of the family member who dies in Vietnamese New Year will be viewed and visited at their house or funeral home for two or three days, and at night one family member must sit and watch over the casket because they believe if a black cat jumps on or over it, that person wont go to heaven and theyll become a mean, violent ghost lingering here on earth.. 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 death, the physical body disappears, and from it comes a spirit." "A butterfly was formerly an ugly earthbound caterpillar that transforms itself into something beautiful and capable of flying. 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. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in. 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. The job of coordinating and preparing Chinese funerals falls on the children or younger family members of the deceased person. 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. calculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. 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. Moreover, the architecture must ensure harmony amongst all feng shui details. Vietnamese Sympathy Message. 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. They will appreciate the opportunity to be open about their beliefs without offending you. Vietnamese people believe it is a bad misfortune to die away from home. is a time when we bid goodbye to a lunar year and usher in the next. Vietnamese also believe that a good combination of digits in their motorbike license plate or phone number can bring them good luck. Money. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. People, especially the female, will go to fortune-tellers (thay boi) and see their, Vietnamese Superstitions - Remedies for Bad Luck and Changing One's Fortune, Most Vietnamese have multiple altars in both their home and workplace to worship their ancestors as well as different deities like Buddha, Bodhisattva, Than Tai, (Caishen) - God of Wealth, and Phuc Loc Tho - the three Gods of Prosperity, Wealth, and Longevity. 2. While offerings will be much appreciated, do not feel pressured to give anything as your presence will be welcome enough. This allows the soul to find its way home. Your luck for the entire year depends on the first visitor. Can I Take Photos at a Vietnamese Funeral? In addition, Vietnamese pregnant women avoid squatting in fear of dropping out the little kid or being in a mood since they dont want their newborn child to have a sorrowful face. 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. 5. O'brien shows how American soldiers order their experience by superstition rather than by rationality. 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). 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. 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. Burning ghost money is a popular superstitions in Vietnam - Source: phunuvietnam.vn. 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. Most funeral rites are performed in the presence of the body. Even though it can be a fun thing to do once in a while, there are many Vietnamese who actually believe in it and got their money swindled, so it gives a bad impression when people talk about fortune-telling. However, you are best placed to avoid red flowers as this color is reserved for happy occasions such as the new year. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. on the first day of the lunar new year. Comes with fortune-telling, there have to be remedies if the result of reading your destiny is bad. Nowadays, though, a lot of dentists are recommending that these baby teeth are preserved. Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. My aunts superstitions still remain incredibly significant to her identity, shaping the way she lives life each day and permanently influencing her beliefs. Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. Check out our Vietnam travel guide or our private tours if you wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of Vietnam. Again, this is just wishful thinking from parents, hoping that their kids will have all the best in life. The word lon in Vietnamese means to reverse, so you should only eat a balut to reverse your bad luck and not when you are lucky. It is during this time that they share food and toast to celebrate the deceaseds life. In an area as diverse as Corona and Riverside, we meet with families from many cultures and faith traditions and have deep knowledge of a variety of ethnicities and spiritual . The second way is decided by the compatibility of the guest and the homeowner based on their age and zodiac signs. Of course, this is nothing more than an old belief. 1. Moreover, kids are often taught not to use chopsticks to hit their rice bowls. The arrangement of an altar. Vietnamese funeral costume is white clothes with white headband. Burning votive paper. Due to this. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. The deceased is viewed with similar reverence to the living and so the same norms for taking pictures apply. Particularly, the first guest visiting the house is believed to bring luck to the host family and this Vietnam superstition has been standing for a very long time. What Do You Give at a Vietnamese Funeral? 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. Vietnamese Superstitions. Four is unlucky as it sounds like the word for death or suffering. The Vietnamese believe when you see one that means someone, especially those who are close to you, is going to die. This is because I wasn't born in Vietnam and I didn't know about . 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. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. There is a balance as fine as a silk thread that has long been revered by us. As Vietnamese funerals will likely have some unique customs, you should respectfully observe them and feel no pressure to engage. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. 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. Quite silly, actually. 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. For more insights on, check our guide on, Conclusion on What You Should Know About Vietnamese Superstitions, Superstitious beliefs are everywhere on the planet and vary from all corners of the world. 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. 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.

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