And It's so great to share all things I know about Vietnam to you. 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. 2. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide here. This idea results in a Vietnam superstition which is burning a bamboo spill (a piece of paper) to drive ill spirits away. You may lose money. to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. Wedding Dates: Lucky and Unlucky Months. According to the law of feng shui, the door is a gateway for luck or misfortune to your home. 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. It is believed that by doing so, youd sweep out the good luck that the new year brings. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. 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. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. 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. Their origins may surprise you. Superstitions in Vietnam. As we were readying the food and setting up the table, she asked if I knew any Vietnamese superstitions regarding the New Year, and proceeded to enlighten me. 9:00-11:00 a.m.: Get ready to party! In Vietnams daily life, there are a lot of unusual things happening that no one can explain. In any case, avoiding pictures with 3 people has become a common superstition in Vietnam, even in our modern society. You may take them as seriously (or not) as you wish! 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. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety and devotion to one's parents. Your luck for the entire year depends on the first visitor. . Superstition has been known to determine the conduct of the war in this ravaged country. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news. Sometimes, people can also t va after returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them. The arrangement of an altar. Losing your temper or shouting will bring bad luck for the year. The Vietnamese, especially the young ones, also other kinds of fortune-telling from foreign countries like the horoscope and tarot. Customers buying a lot is considered a good sign and vice versa. Some people just see them as things to remember in life, but there are people who follow them as if they were the ultimate law of the universe. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. You cant have a stable career without a residence. If the pot doesn't break, it means there'll be another death in the family soon. 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. The funeral occurring at a random time and day. Death and Dying in Vietnamese Culture. Money. Flowers, money, or food are commonly shared with grieving families. 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. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. 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. Filipinos have folk beliefs for many aspects of life, but you'll be surprised at the sheer number of superstitions for funerals and wakes! According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, once removed, baby teeth from the upper jaw should be placed under the bed. Very superstitious. In certain cases, some shop owners perform the ritual if the first customer of the day leaves their shop without buying anything, as they believe the act is a sign that they wont get many more customers that day. Red represents happiness. Gold coins and rice are placed in the mouth of the deceased during the preparation of the body. 4. 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. More. 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. that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. 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. List. Relatives . Vietnamese funerals. The word for the number 4 sounds much like the word for death. Age is seen as the most important factor for determination. This allows the soul to find its way home. While offerings will be much appreciated, do not feel pressured to give anything as your presence will be welcome enough. Ideas About Death and Dying in Vietnam. As a courtesy, ensure that your phone remains silent when in use. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. 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. Tet or Vietnamese New Year's, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnam. We participate in affiliate programs that allow us to earn a commission at no cost to you. 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. The following are some popular superstitions in Vietnam that can amaze you. Remember to only eat an odd number of eggs (1, 3, 5) and crush the eggshells when youve finished. I'll just list a few. 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. 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. There are a total of five feng shui elements: earth, air, fire, wood, and metal. . 4. . To save our couples from the headache of digging all the dos and don'ts at their weddings, we have collected the 10 most important wedding superstitions in Chinese culture for you to follow. 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. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. At the site of interment, final prayers are made before the burial or cremation. 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. 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. The first customer of the day will determine whether it is a good or bad day for business. Everyone should be on their best behavior during Tet towards neighbors, friends and family. Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Do we need to give money at a Vietnamese funeral? Those are for good luck. This may appear non-scientific and silly to an outsider, yet most Chinese adhere to this belief. Throwing childrens baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed. 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. Many also choose to arrange the display as a wreath so that it can be draped over the coffin. 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)info@itourvn.com. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. Some wealthy businessmen would even go as far as paying millions to acquire a good number. In fact, folks collect them in a corner of the house so that the shelter is still neat while the luck is saved. Mourners who cry too hard may pull the soul so they should exercise restraint or risk a ghost remaining on earth. A simple line such as Im deeply sorry for your loss is appropriate. Yet, it is also known for a rumor: any couple who come here together will break up. 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. A series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time if the deceased was religious. It is used as a lucky color for wrapping gifts, including red envelopes. In recent years, many people, especially the younger generation, have gradually stopped relying too much on these Vietnamese superstitions, but only seeing them as reassuring things in life. 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. In general, it can be viewed as offensive or bad luck for an expectant mother to attend a Vietnamese funeral. You might notice that in a funeral, there are people who wear white headband with the clothes, some others just wear white . Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. 5. As such, it is holy and shouldnt be used by mere mortals. Burning votive paper. Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years . The belief may have to do with an idea of luck and "balance": good luck somewhere is balanced by bad luck elsehwere. During visitation, menstruating women should not light incense as it is considered to be bad luck. 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. To the soldiers in Vietnam, superstition became a kind of . All rights reserved 2012 2023 TheSmartLocal.com, Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. Red is considered a lucky color because demons and evil spirits of legends were afraid of the color red. However, some have roots deeply integrated in our culture that theyve become a part of Vietnamese social etiquette. Traditionally, blood sacrifices and magic words made spirits happy. It is during this time that they share food and toast to celebrate the deceaseds life. Preparing the Deceased's Body Psych) by day and writer in the late evenings. Japanese, and Korean languages, the number sounds like the word for "death". This superstitions list includes a lot of pretty common false beliefs that many superstitious people will recognize. The first person who enters the house on the first day of Vietnamese New Year can bring good or bad luck to that household. 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. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. 6. 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. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year. Meanwhile, cats areyou know, cats. Generally, Vietnamese good luck symbols are of Chinese origin. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. This idea results in a. Kate is a qualified psychologist (M.A. You can see more of these irrational beliefs inchopsticks-using manners and gift-giving etiquettes in Vietnam. calculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. Understanding Vietnamese funeral customs allows you to express condolences with respect. 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. Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. Semi-formal black colored clothing is appropriate attire for a Vietnamese funeral. In Vietnam, reading. So there is no wonder why Vietnamese practice a lot of these superstitions in order to make sure that the transition from the old to the new year happens as smoothly as possible. Breaking a Mirror The ancient Romans believed that human life renewed itself in 7-year cycles (mirroring the cycles of the moon). 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. One of the most common superstitions is the number four. 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. Older Vietnamese people may prefer to be at home at the end of life with . It is believed that by doing so, youd sweep out the good luck that the new year brings. They will appreciate the opportunity to be open about their beliefs without offending you. Settle down with a house and a job is an immortal saying of the old Vietnamese. Moreover, too many paper items burned can result in the possibility of fire. 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. Although historians are unsure of the origins of the middle person in a photograph of three meeting his maker first, this superstition seems to feature heavily in Asian superstition [source: Jensen]. The Chinese Vietnamese has a similar ritual where they burn and step over charcoal. The altar from home is placed on top of the gravesite. Moreabout usor visit home page, Check out the necessary information for traveling to Vietnam, Airport Arrival Tips at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh), Airport Arrival Tips at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). 8.7K. Evidently, these superstitions reveal a great deal about Vietnamese culture and thought. Burning ghost money is a popular superstitions in Vietnam - Source: phunuvietnam.vn. Many of those in Vietnam, as elsewhere in Asia, revolve around people's physical features. Breaking a bottle of fish sauce is bad luck. I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. These Vietnamese superstitions originated from two folk tales. Compared to the western practice of one funeral mass, Vietnamese Catholics hold many services for the deceased. Whistle at night will attract snakes. 7. 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. . Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. The first day of the Lunar New Year has a great influence on the flow of the whole year, according to Vietnamese perception. This clothes are made of very thin gauze textile so the dead person's family wears this clothes over their regular clothes. 9:00-11:00 p.m.: This extends from the belief that death is an end to the body and not the spirit. 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. 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. 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. Quite silly, actually. You may wonder how the residence looks without being unclustered. Our Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory staff considers it an honor to help families pay tribute to their loved ones after they die. The deceased is dressed in casual clothing as they would wear daily and the chosen coffin is modest. Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing its bad luck Your birth year is 1996, 9 + 6 = 15 -> 1 + 5 = 6If you are male: 10 - 6 = 4 then your lucky number is 4If you are female: 6 + 5 = 12 -> 1 + 2 = 3 then your luckynumber is 3. The Vietnamese believe when you see one that means someone, especially those who are close to you, is going to die. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. 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. Buyer must ponder days and nights before making a decision. 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. 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.". It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if thats actually the case. However, you are best placed to avoid red flowers as this color is reserved for happy occasions such as the new year. 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. 8 ways Tt is celebrated differently between northern & southern Vietnam, 9 childhood manga & comics we grew up reading, 10 Vietnamese Superstitions To Know To Wow Your Friends & Keep Your Luck Going, I Had Paranormal Encounters At My Office & Decided To Never Stay There Alone Again, Man Breaks Curfew In Saigon, Ends Up Getting Escorted To See His Brother For The Last Time, 20 Vietnamese Singers Whom Every Millennial Should Know About, From Ageless Balladeers To V-Pop Divas, 8 Vietnamese Supernatural Beliefs Thatll Send Shivers Up Your Spine, Domino Tower in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam Will Be Southeast Asia's Tallest Building. Red is a symbol of luck and is used in most Vietnamese celebrations. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). 1. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions. 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 Eveif your age is not compatible. This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. 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.. 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. When visiting Vietnam, many are our travellers and friends who wonder "Why Vietnamese people burn colored papers?". 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. 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! This belief dictates death planning for the Vietnamese. 41 Surprisingly Fun Funeral Ideas To Celebrate A Life Lived, 21 Ideas What To Get Someone Whose Dog Died. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. 1. 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. 1. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. Stay updated with the latest news of the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and information for traveling to Vietnam. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. If a woman is the first thing you see when you leave your house that is bad luck. 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. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. 2). It begins with the preparation of the deceased's body that will be on display at the family home until it is time for the funeral. Pregnant women and people who have had a recent death in the family are considered bearers of bad luck. Number 8 is believed to have auspicious meaning because this sound has a positive meaning of prosperity, whereas 4, a negative meaning . 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. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. They pray and give offerings to ancestors to show respect, something beautiful and healthy. 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). 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. 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. 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. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in meaning wealth, prosperity. 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 . 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. Tet is more than just family gatherings,sticky rice cakes, and Lixi(lucky money). tragic circumstances) nature of the death. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species behaviors. It is believed that the first person to entire the house after midnight of the Lunar New Year Eve is responsible for the good or bad fortune that follows the family throughout the year. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. Thats when the, Burning ghost money is a long-term tradition in Vietnam, derived from the gratitude and filial piety of the children - the next generation - to the preceding generations. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall, Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their. It is important to learn about them so as to avoid upsetting people by mistake. I have seen owls and I think I heard them hoot even though it was a long time ago. Traditional Vietnamese funerals are multi-day events that last anywhere from one to three days or more. The first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. On the other hand, those from the lower jaw should be thrown onto the rooftop. Reasons? In fact, despite a long and deep Catholic tradition, certain pagan rituals in . 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. Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. Superstitious beliefs are everywhere on the planet and vary from all corners of the world. If a dragonfly bites your belly button, you learn how to swim, Swimming is a useful and, in many situations, a life-saving skill thats best learnt at a young age. 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 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. Balut - fertilized duck egg embryo - also known as Hot vit lon, is a popular food Vietnamese use to get rid of bad fortune. Pass Under the Casket. 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. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. The death is just one thing that occurs for a person to be reborn somewhere else. Your birth year is 1996, 9 + 6 = 15 -> 1 + 5 = 6, If you are male: 10 - 6 = 4 then your lucky number is 4, If you are female: 6 + 5 = 12 -> 1 + 2 = 3 then your lucky, Irrational Beliefs in Vietnamese Superstitions. Culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet is known as a culinary "ambassador" who is always dedicated to bringing Vietnamese traditions to the world. A tourist hotspot of South Central Vietnam, Lt is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and stunning mountainous views. In line with tradition, immediate family members are expected to wear white and adorn matching headbands. When in doubt, observe how the family behaves during the funeral and be guided by them. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. 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. Couples going to Lt together will break up. The superstition about the casket proves that while family members are honored and taken care of even after deatha highly important concept in Vietnamese cultureit is also necessary to watch the casket and guard the deceased for the livings sake. Idea results in a. Kate is a typical number mentioned in many instances Buddhist. Culture, religion dictates some of the gravesite sound has a similar ritual where they burn and step over.... Are close to you are expected to wear white headband with the clothes, some others just white... Series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time that they send to! Silly to an outsider, yet most Chinese adhere to this belief came to be bad luck p.m. this. Woman is the first thing you see one that means someone, especially those who are close to you see. Be viewed as offensive or bad luck bring seven years va after returning from a to... 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