after returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. The belief that souls of the deceased live on after death and a funeral is critical to entering the afterlife. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. To guarantee a luckier new year, people follow superstitious beliefs. Many of these Vietnamese superstitions are old beliefs passed down from previous generations that you can choose to follow or not as you see fit. This usually includes a wake, mass or prayer service, and burial or cremation. If youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. My aunt also mentioned the idea that the death of a family member must be shown a great deal of attention and care, so much that it is important for someone to be watching over the casket day and night to guard against evilness and the resurrection of a violent, Earth-bound ghost. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. 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. 219 Kallang Bahru, #04-00 Chutex Building, Singapore 339348, The opinions expressed by our users do not reflect the official position of TheSmartLocal.com or its staff. In the past, a Vietnamese funeral could last up to a month or more. 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. You cant have a stable career without a residence. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. Pass Under the Casket. 3:00-5:00 p.m.: Be careful. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. Learn more about how incense is made. One of the taboos that people abstain from is sweeping their houses or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. 1. For more insights on, check our guide onwhat to expect in Vietnamese Tet. 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. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. This practice is known as Dot phong. 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. 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. While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. Due to this, expectant mums are encouraged to avoid funerals as they risk putting an omen on the grieving. There are no unique expectations of conduct at a Vietnamese wake and funeral. Burning votive paper. Do you stop each day at 11:11 to make a wish? 1. 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. 7:00-9:00 p.m.: More guests are on their way. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in, 10. 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. When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them. Every culture has its superstitions. 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. 1) The first day of Tet. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. 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. Vietnamese superstitions, meanwhile, are vast and deeply embedded in people's psyche. Owls are bad omens. If you hear the hoot of an owl, it's certain death. Depends on what youre praying for, be it health, wealth, or general fortune for yourself and your family, you will pray to different deities. They pray and give offerings to ancestors to show respect, something beautiful and healthy. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are. 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. 6. tragic circumstances) nature of the death. meaning wealth, prosperity. Family members will bathe and prepare the deceased in formal clothing. Hence, there are some things, some actions that they consider good and of course, some are seen as bad, that need avoiding. They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. 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. 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. This includes a picture of the deceased along with flowers, incense, and food offerings (e.g. 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. Placement of an oil lamp under the coffin during the wake will keep the spirit warm. Except for blood, probably. Keeping an eye on what or who enters the house is also just as important. Wedding Dates: Lucky and Unlucky Months. Here are nine fascinating Vietnamese superstitions that people still believe given out by Katie Kalmusky on The Culture The priest then conducts a. 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. 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. Today, both dogs and cats are well-loved by thousands of pet owners. . 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. bowls of rice, fruit, and tea). North and South Vietnam have different approaches). 5. Every year after a Vietnamese person's death, their children and grandchildren make a feast. With Buddhism being the most common religion in Vietnam, traditions are widely practiced across the country. Vietnamese funerals. 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. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. Remove a Corpse From a House Feet-first. Read more here. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. Every action, gesture, on this day must be paid close attention to. Vietnam's ancient history and rich local folklore have led to some strong held beliefs that certain behaviors will increase good fortune while others will doom family members to bad luck or invite evil spirits to lurk around the home. The arrangement of an altar. The Vietnamese hold special dinners to commemorate the 49 th and 100 th days of mourning as well as the first anniversary of their beloved family members' deaths. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. Family members will burn fake items made of paper such as money, iPhones, jewelry, and cars. 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. This is a list of signs believed to bring bad luck according to superstitions. Some people possess "good spirits" which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their, 8. However, a house, a building is such a valuable property that can be taken as granted. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. Vietnamese people believe it is a bad misfortune to die away from home. Can I Take Photos at a Vietnamese Funeral? The Vietnamese, especially the young ones, also other kinds of fortune-telling from foreign countries like the horoscope and tarot. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. While much of the culture is past-oriented, these superstitions mostly focus on preparations for the future to ensure that it is a successful and bright one. 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. The following guide outlines everything you need to know about Vietnamese funeral traditions. 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. Here we focus on the largest two congregations and their funeral rites. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. #4 means death, #13 means bad luck (buildings rarely have floor 4 & 13 because of this reason), #7 is our lucky number (that's why slot machines' biggest jackpot is if you get 7's in a row), 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. 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. These usually occur a week after death, and then on the 49th and 100th day. To chase away bad luck, Vietnamese will burn incense or a piece of paper and fan the smoke. Ideas About Death and Dying in Vietnam. The pictures show the deceased was just as important in death as when they . There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Here are 40 Filipino superstitions to remember during these solemn occasions. You may wonder how the residence looks without being unclustered. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. 2013-2022 i Tour Vietnam | All Rights Reserved | contact: [email protected], MUI NE, DA LAT & NHA TRANG (6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS). Any of the Four Symbols. Nothing happened to me. Here the Vietnamese superstitions that I love and know: 1. . As such, dont let the rumors stop you from visiting this beautiful city with your significant other. Moreover, the architecture must ensure harmony amongst all feng shui details. 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. Do you find yourself throwing spilled salt over your shoulder without even stopping to consider why? 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.. Below are some common examples of Vietnamese superstitions. 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. These somewhat uncustomary views or actions arise from cultural beliefs, with some including: It is important to note that superstitions vary between religions and regions (e.g. Pregnancy and birth customs section cover all customs of Vietnamese when theey having babies and other related topics to pregnancy and birth. Semi-formal black colored clothing is appropriate attire for a Vietnamese funeral. Old wives' tales have been around for centuries, and many people still believe them. We're not kidding. Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. That said, as with all other superstitions, there is no scientific evidence for it, so dont let it stop you from capturing shots of memorable moments with your squad. Basically, maternity is a sensitive period when the mother must be careful for the sake of the baby's safety. 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. Our Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory staff considers it an honor to help families pay tribute to their loved ones after they die. . It is avoided to the extent that buildings sometimes 'skip' the 4th floor, labelling it as the 5th, which can be confusing if you're deciphering levels in a . 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. In Vietnams daily life, there are a lot of unusual things happening that no one can explain. Ancestral worship which includes the use of an altar with pictures, incense, and various food offerings is an example of this. Losing your temper or shouting will bring bad luck for the year. The casket is placed in a central room allowing visitors to come and pay their respects. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. Gold coins and rice are placed in the mouth of the deceased during the preparation of the body. Number 8 is believed to have auspicious meaning because this sound has a positive meaning of prosperity, whereas 4, a negative meaning . A series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time if the deceased was religious. Whether you believe in superstitions and old legends or not, their cultural roots may surprise you. Balut - fertilized duck egg embryo - also known as Hot vit lon, is a popular food Vietnamese use to get rid of bad fortune. These Vietnamese superstitions not only reflect in our traditions, culture, day to day life but to the extent that they can also dictate from which date is the best to open a business, go on a vacation or wedding ceremony, etc. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in meaning wealth, prosperity. 9:00-11:00 p.m.: This allows the soul to find its way home. 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. During the wake period (usually three days), loved ones will keep constant vigil over the body. The following are some popular superstitions in Vietnam that can amaze you. 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. Family members will wash and prepare the body before dressing the deceased in white clothing or semi-formal attire. that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. Death is just as much a part of life as is the reverse, a delicate interwoven tapestry. Take this superstition as reason to be a kinder person under every phase of the moon. Their origins may surprise you. Knowing what to expect at a Vietnamese funeral is largely influenced by religion. Those are for good luck. The word for the number 4 sounds much like the word for death. The owl is a sign of bad luck. The altar from home is placed on top of the gravesite. When she is not trying to configure websites, Kate can be found walking in nature with a coffee firmly in hand. 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. According to Staticia, 14.9% of the population are practicing Buddhists while 7.3% are Roman Catholic. The body must be completely cold before it can be washed and prepared so as not to disrupt this process. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. Superstitions in Vietnam. 2. 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. 1:00-3:00 p.m.: You'll be safe and sound for whatever plans lie ahead of you. In order to ensure a prosperous and happy new year, so many aspects must be taken care of, such as making sure that even the first person to enter the house is in a perfectly good moodnot the easiest task! t va a common ritual for shop owners to shoo away bad luck. The belief may have to do with an idea of luck and "balance": good luck somewhere is balanced by bad luck elsehwere. This is one of the popular Vietnamese superstitions New Year. One is a story about how a family or merchant was blessed by a fairy hiding in their trash, but they werent aware and accidentally swept her out, resulting in the downfall of the family business. 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 represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. They will appreciate the opportunity to be open about their beliefs without offending you. Shedding tears onto the body can be a bad omen. Don't swear or fight. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. 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. Building a bathroom behind the main door is also unwise, not only will it create bad fortunes for homeowners, but it is also believed to cause health issues related to kidney, stomach, memory loss or even fertility problems. Do we need to give money at a Vietnamese funeral? On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. 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. Vietnamese people believe that it is a bad misfortune to die away from home, but also bad luck if they carry a corpse home. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. Check our guide onwhat to expect at a Vietnamese funeral insights on, check our guide onwhat to at! Be taken as granted the afterlife at a Vietnamese person has been told at least once pictures,,. During the preparation of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process to be about. Consider why 14.9 % of the deceased live on after death, their children and grandchildren a! Reverse, a Vietnamese funeral could last up to a month or more that they pity... 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