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. Some Vietnamese Superstitions during Tet Holidays, Xongdat- also known as the first home caller or first foot, 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 Eve, 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 is a list of signs believed to bring bad luck according to superstitions. . 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. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. What Flowers are Appropriate for a Vietnamese Funeral? 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. The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Psych) by day and writer in the late evenings. The priest then conducts a. 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 loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. Check out our Vietnam travel guide or our private tours if you wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of Vietnam. With many years of experience, she shares about the "range" of Vietnamese . The best approach is to consult the family before the wake or funeral. Reporter Christine Nguyen looks at her grandmother . When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". However, a house, a building is such a valuable property that can be taken as granted. This is just for Buddhists though. List. You may wonder how the residence looks without being unclustered. 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. Do not sing in the kitchen or you'll get an old husband. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their, 8. The word for the number 4 sounds much like the word for death. No taking pictures with 3 people in the frame, Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck, A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from. This is one of the very few Vietnamese superstitions which can pose a threat to the environment. . 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. Regardless of customs, the focus of the service is to respectfully farewell a loved one. If you wish to learn more about Vietnamese Tt traditions and customs, check out our previous article here. Every culture has its superstitions. Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. 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. Thats when the Vietnamese superstitions emerged as a resort to human mentality. 9:00-11:00 a.m.: Get ready to party! Placement of an oil lamp under the coffin during the wake will keep the spirit warm. Burning ghost money also pollutes the environment and damages forests because these votive items are made from paper (wood). If you wish to learn more about Vietnamese, traditions and customs, check out our previous article, A bowl of rice filled to the brim is said to be for the dead and should not be served to the living. 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. A series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time if the deceased was religious. To chase away bad luck, Vietnamese will burn incense or a piece of paper and fan the smoke. For more insights on, check our guide onwhat to expect in Vietnamese Tet. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. In fact, folks collect them in a corner of the house so that the shelter is still neat while the luck is saved. Avoid wearing white or black. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall, Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their. This usually includes a wake, mass or prayer service, and burial or cremation. Red represents happiness. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. If you had bad luck in your dreams, perhaps there is some counter-vailing good luck that will pop-up elsewhere in your life. 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. Family members will bathe and prepare the deceased in formal clothing. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. Here are nine fascinating Vietnamese superstitions that people still believe given out by Katie Kalmusky on The Culture 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 youre interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out: Cover image adapted from @ng10_11 and Phc V. 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. According to Staticia, 14.9% of the population are practicing Buddhists while 7.3% are Roman Catholic. Again, this is just wishful thinking from parents, hoping that their kids will have all the best in life. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. 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. 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. There are also other superstitions in Vietnam to wear off bad luck like wearing lucky charms made from jade. 2). The first person who enters the house on the first day of Vietnamese New Year can bring good or bad luck to that household. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. Image credit: @ng10_11. Do you stop each day at 11:11 to make a wish? Couples going to Lt together will break up. tragic circumstances) nature of the death. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine, votive paper, lighting candles and burning incense before praying in front of the altar. Everyone should be on their best behavior during Tet towards neighbors, friends and family. But all in all the best method to cultivate good fortune is to do as many good deeds as you can. 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. This is done to signify respect and to show mourning. This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. Check out our, This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. If he or she is happy and rich the whole year that household will be happy and prosperous. While it is common practice to give money in an envelope to assist with funeral costs, it is not mandatory to do so. 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. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice. Age is seen as the most important factor for determination. Get the world-leading travel insurance for your adventure in Vietnam: itourvn.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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 Qingming Festival is the day for descendants to worship their ancestors . People hope for a better upcoming year when Tet arrives. Find more hotels to stay in Vietnam below: Ho Chi Minh Private Tours:Saigon Shore ExcursionsMotorbike City ToursSaigon Food Tours, i Tour Vietnam - Private Tours Ltd. Outside Vietnam +84 986188801Inside Vietnam 0986188801 (English)[email protected]. Depends on what youre praying for, be it health, wealth, or general fortune for yourself and your family, you will pray to different deities. While you should refrain from cheerful behavior, this is consistent with any western funeral service. Funeral Preparation. Sometimes, people can also. Buyer must ponder days and nights before making a decision. A way to get rid of this bad omen is to put up a curtain or feng shui painting in front of your bathroom door to cover it up. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to ngho, which means poor in Vietnamese. 7:00-9:00 p.m.: More guests are on their way. If there is a long delay between the death and burial then an embalmer will attend and support with preservation of the body. 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. Many people are carried to the hospital if they are sick. While beliefs vary between individuals, the most common etiquette standards are outlined below. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. The second way is decided by the compatibility of the guest and the homeowner based on their age and zodiac signs. Moreover, kids are often taught not to use chopsticks to hit their rice bowls. Vietnamese superstitions, meanwhile, are vast and deeply embedded in people's psyche. In the past, a Vietnamese funeral could last up to a month or more. Japanese, and Korean languages, the number sounds like the word for "death". It is also about turning to a new page and having a fresh start for a new year. If you hear the hoot of an owl, it's certain death. Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. According to the law of feng shui, the door is a gateway for luck or misfortune to your home. Some people also avoid cutting or washing their hair before the exam for fear of washing all their knowledge away. 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. 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. The science originated in China but soon imported in Vietnam and became popular even until now. This represents the belief that the body will one day return to the earth in line with the cycle of life. Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their kids not to wear hats indoors. 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. During the wake or funeral the hoot of an owl, it is common practice to money. Old clothes and worn in the death and burial then an embalmer will attend and support with preservation of body. Joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the shelter is still neat while the luck is.... 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