With Buddhism being the most common religion in Vietnam, traditions are widely practiced across the country. But all in all the best method to cultivate good fortune is to do as many good deeds as you can. 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. Do you find yourself throwing spilled salt over your shoulder without even stopping to consider why? When in doubt, observe how the family behaves during the funeral and be guided by them. On the 12-year lunar calendar commonly used throughout Asia, many of the years are considered incompatible. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. 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! A large number of superstitions in Vietnam reflect the countrys rich history and diverse culture. Many of those in Vietnam, as elsewhere in Asia, revolve around people's physical features. The deceased is viewed with similar reverence to the living and so the same norms for taking pictures apply. Discover some South-East Asian superstitions that our Destination Specialists have come across on their travels. A friendly or enemy commander may refuse to attack or may alter his strategy if the stars are not in his favor. . 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. And there are more because every person, with their unique background, occupation, and experience will have their own superstition and ritual related to it. Particularly number 8, because the Chinese pronunciation of it sounds like the word Phat in. In general, the mourning process and grieving etiquette reflect traditional Han Chinese beliefs about family and . The family of the deceased will prepare a banquet to share and visit the grave of their loved one to pray. 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. 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]. . Today, there are many who break with tradition and open a window so the soul can be . Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts. 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. 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. 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. Death is just as much a part of life as is the reverse, a delicate interwoven tapestry. This is one of the popular Vietnamese superstitions New Year. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. Moreover, kids are often taught not to use chopsticks to hit their rice bowls. Fear of the number 9 is known as enneaphobia, in Japanese culture; this is because it sounds like the . In Vietnamese superstitions, people believe that their house comes with a history and negative or positive energy of their own. The rest of the country is divided between atheism and smaller religious groups. 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. Filipinos have folk beliefs for many aspects of life, but you'll be surprised at the sheer number of superstitions for funerals and wakes! They are even concerned with who should first set foot in their house on . Read more about Religions in Vietnam here. 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. There are many Vietnamese superstitions that are evident following a death. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide here. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Reasons? Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. Another bizarre superstition in Vietnam is that it is not advisable to prepare clothes or baby stuff before eighth-month pregnancy. Vietnamese formal meals have lots of dishes, big and small, all served together For a big formal meal, with many guests, the standard is to have at least 4-5 dishes. The event joins generations together in a commitment that extends beyond death. For example, the, fishermen will remove the bones of the fish after finishing one side of the fish instead of turning it over as they believe this would turn over their boats. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the childs growth. When we take pictures of funerals or wakes, it's not to be macabre but more like a quiet reverence. Check here for more exotic Vietnamese dishes. 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. This superstitions list includes a lot of pretty common false beliefs that many superstitious people will recognize. During the wake period (usually three days), loved ones will keep constant vigil over the body. Those prone to waterworks may compromise the future success of their children. This symbolizes the pure cyclical nature of life. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck. They will recite the rosary, sing hymns, and a priest will hold prayer services with mourners. 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. Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an incredibly superstitious time for Vietnamese families. You cant have a stable career without a residence. Anything red. "It turned us into a platoon of believers. 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. The Vietnamese, especially the young ones, also other kinds of fortune-telling from foreign countries like the horoscope and tarot. 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. Youve probably heard sayings such as 13 is an unlucky number or dont walk under a ladder or youll face bad luck before. Vietnamese people believe it is a bad misfortune to die away from home. 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. 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. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. 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. 4. Family members hold constant vigil over the body. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. There are many kinds of fortune-telling in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese really love fortune-telling. 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. In contrast, there are those who feature ill spirits that they send pity to others. And It's so great to share all things I know about Vietnam to you. You can see more of these irrational beliefs inchopsticks-using manners and gift-giving etiquettes in Vietnam. One of the most common superstitions is the number four. Interment of the deceased will follow at the site of burial. If you purchase at an early stage, the child will leave 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.. At sunrise or very early on the final day, a procession to transport the coffin to a gravesite or crematory will occur. According to Staticia, 14.9% of the population are practicing Buddhists while 7.3% are Roman Catholic. 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. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. The same is true for many other Asian cultures, which share a number of linguistic similarities. is a time when we bid goodbye to a lunar year and usher in the next. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. If you are able to speak Vietnamese, then some sympathy messages include: If you do not speak Vietnamese, then general condolences will be welcomed by the grieving. 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. Money. While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the funeral. calculated by adding the last two digits of your birth year together until you get a single digit. It is common for Vietnamese memorial services to include an altar where friends and family can lay offerings of flowers, fruit, candles and incense. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that theyd get a bad score. Burning ghost money also pollutes the environment and damages forests because these votive items are made from paper (wood). They will usually adorn white clothing or shrouds as well. The number four gets its bad name because it sounds like "death" in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai. This does not impact our reviews as our values are to remain objective. Psych) by day and writer in the late evenings. Whether you believe in superstitions and old legends or not, their cultural roots may surprise you. 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. In Vietnamese culture, numbers like 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 are thought of as lucky numbers. 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 Image credit: ststanislausparish.com. The word for it in Vietnamese is "coi boi", and the most popular time for this is at Tet Holiday (coi boi dau nam). Those attending a Vietnamese funeral may choose to offer flowers, food, or verbal condolences to the grieving. The funeral occurring at a random time and day. It is important to learn about them so as to avoid upsetting people by mistake. 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. However, many feng shui masters have said that 9 is the luckiest number, it represents completion, fulfillment, and achievement. Speaking of superstitions related to eating, in Vietnam, a lot of students avoid having eggs in their diet in the days leading up to a big exam. 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. Family members will wash and prepare the body before dressing the deceased in white clothing or semi-formal attire. Four is unlucky as it sounds like the word for death or suffering. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. 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). That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. For example, people with the zodiac sign of the mouse should visit homeowners with signs of buffalo, dragon, monkey, and if people born in the year of the snake wouldn't be welcomed to visit a family whose head of the family is born in the year of the mouse. 6. The majority of Buddhists are cremated rather than buried. They will appreciate the opportunity to be open about their beliefs without offending you. Beliefs and religions are spiritual needs of a nation, which have existed and will exist with the nation and cannot be completely eliminated. 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. Vietnamese Funeral Traditions. A tourist hotspot of South Central Vietnam, Lt is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and stunning mountainous views. The body must be completely cold before it can be washed and prepared so as not to disrupt this process. They believe that everything must be cleaned before this day arrives as a tardy cleanse can sweep away all of the family's good luck and prosperity. Don't swear or fight. Displays of wealth are not appropriate during the funeral. 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. In fact, folks collect them in a corner of the house so that the shelter is still neat while the luck is saved. 8.7K. The reason for this tradition can be explained by the name of the dish itself. If youre in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when youre there, check out our detailed guide, 9. In Vietnam, reading. If he or she is happy and rich the whole year that household will be happy and prosperous. 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