Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. Your luck for the entire year depends on the first visitor. 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. Inhumation, the Main Funeral Style in China. There are plenty of strange Italian superstitions, irrational beliefs and practices that all aim to ward off bad luck. Wedding Dates: Lucky and Unlucky Months. 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. . Necklace, wrist, ring, whatever. 5. The Chinese Vietnamese has a similar ritual where they burn and step over charcoal. To guarantee a luckier new year, people follow superstitious beliefs. So when youre visiting a friends family during Tet, make sure not to comment about their piled-up trash or help out with cleaning, as you will be throwing out their good fortune. The same is true for many other Asian cultures, which share a number of linguistic similarities. . Vietnamese funerals. More Vietnamese are now being cremated after the. In an apartment complex, the door should not be placed opposite of the elevator because owners can feel like everyone is peeking inside their home, and the privacy of the family will be disturbed by outside energy. While some people are avid believers, a large majority of Vietnamese people remain indifferent to these views. Moreover, the architecture must ensure harmony amongst all feng shui details. 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. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center. A funeral service is held on or just before the final day. You shouldnt place any mirror opposite to the entrance because after a long day of working, seeing a shadow or reflection in the mirror as the first thing when you come home can create paranoia which can negatively affect homeowners mental health or make them suffer from nightmares, especially if you are a woman. Quite silly, actually. The Italian culture has many beliefs passed down from generation to generation and even though many of them may seem absurd to an outsider, they are taken more or less seriously by natives! 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 Vietnam, reading. However, a house, a building is such a valuable property that can be taken as granted. Some people possess good spirits which will bring happiness and good luck to the person they contact. That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile. Low denominations of money are thrown onto the ground during the funeral procession. What Flowers are Appropriate for a Vietnamese Funeral? However, there are many people who are completely delusional and blindly believe in these things, harming not only themselves but also those around them. The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. This includes a picture of the deceased along with flowers, incense, and food offerings (e.g. Placement of an oil lamp under the coffin during the wake will keep the spirit warm. 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. Avoid wearing white or black. Superstition has been known to determine the conduct of the war in this ravaged country. If you had bad luck in your dreams, perhaps there is some counter-vailing good luck that will pop-up elsewhere in your life. Knowing what to expect at a Vietnamese funeral is largely influenced by religion. Tet in Vietnam is associated with guest visiting, eating, eveloping, which means there is a lot of waste. Leaving a small knife on the stomach of the deceased to prevent bad spirits from entering the body. Displays of wealth are not appropriate during the funeral. The best approach is to consult the family before the wake or funeral. The main Catholic traditions observed in a Vietnamese funeral include: Whether a Vietnamese person has this belief is influenced by their religion. Due to this. Culinary artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet is known as a culinary "ambassador" who is always dedicated to bringing Vietnamese traditions to the world. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. Here we focus on the largest two congregations and their funeral rites. You can see more of these irrational beliefs in. While offerings will be much appreciated, do not feel pressured to give anything as your presence will be welcome enough. Any of the Four Symbols. Whistle at night will attract snakes. What Do You Wear to a Vietnamese Funeral? The superstition about the casket proves that while family members are honored and taken care of even after death a highly important concept in Vietnamese culture it is also necessary to watch the casket and guard the deceased for the living s sake. For example, thefishermen 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. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are 10 common superstitions in Vietnam that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once. 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. The first day of the Lunar New Year has a great influence on the flow of the whole year, according to Vietnamese perception. You might notice that in a funeral, there are people who wear white headband with the clothes, some others just wear white . Stay updated with the latest news of the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and information for traveling to Vietnam. Where there is limited space or for most Vietnamese living in western societies, the family will engage a funeral home to assist with proceedings. While it is common practice to give money in an envelope to assist with funeral costs, it is not mandatory to do so. When the platoon was in the jungle, Tim O'brien talked about the following regarding the platoon. 5. This idea results in a. Unfortunately, this number has many unlucky meanings, and people believe it brings misfortune and bad luck. Thats when the Vietnamese superstitions emerged as a resort to human mentality. The first stage is called " Nhap Quan " (Entering the Coffin). 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. It is the outcome of coincident cases of miscarriage, stillbirth. It is superstitious that cleaning should be finished before the new year's eve. 1) The first day of Tet. But all in all the best method to cultivate good fortune is to do as many good deeds as you can. tragic circumstances) nature of the death. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions. Thats why this superstition in Vietnam comes to life. Read more here. Learn more about how incense is made. Burning incense is a way to respect the gods and the deceased relatives. Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years . Many Buddhists believe that the soul is transitioning out of the body for up to eight hours after death. The following are some examples: After a death, windows were closed so the deceased's soul could not fly out. This practice is known as Dot phonglong. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. Customers buying a lot is considered a good sign and vice versa. In Vietnam, a death anniversary is viewed as a celebration of life and a festive occasion. If the deceased will be cremated, then this is likely to be a final aspect of the service. Embalming and organ donation are acceptable in the Catholic faith. Everyone should be on their best behavior during Tet towards neighbors, friends and family. Meaning of White Headband at Vietnamese Funerals, Vietnamese Funeral Etiquette What to Do & Not to Do, What do I Say? Reasons? 1:00-3:00 p.m.: You'll be safe and sound for whatever plans lie ahead of you. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. Check out our Vietnam travel guide or our private tours if you wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of Vietnam. In Vietnam passing a funeral or a bat is good luck. Hold the door open. The door is one of the most important aspects of feng shui in your home. It is unclear where the rumor comes from. 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. White and black clothing are associated with death and grieving, so people will opt for colorful clothes befitting of celebration. 4. These somewhat uncustomary views or actions arise from cultural beliefs, with some including: Pregnancy is viewed as causing bad luck. 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. Except for blood, probably. But for Ian Rose the hairy mole is a lucky . In feng shui law, your personal lucky number is. 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. Not having sufficient knowledge, faith or trust in scientific methods, a Vietnamese often relies on his prejudices, emotions and the word of his forefathers to guide his daily life. The event joins generations together in a commitment that extends beyond death. 2). You may lose money. However, today, it usually lasts around three days. 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. There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Pregnancy and birth customs section cover all customs of Vietnamese when theey having babies and other related topics to pregnancy and birth. Therefore, it's bad luck to carry a corpse home. 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. For more insights on, check our guide onwhat to expect in Vietnamese Tet. Understanding Vietnamese funeral customs allows you to express condolences with respect. This Vietnam travel information page is written by a team of professional tour guides in Vietnam. Those attending a Vietnamese funeral usually provide gifts as a gesture of sympathy. 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. Traditionally, blood sacrifices and magic words made spirits happy. Wow, should I visit a Vietnamese family during the new year holiday? 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. I'm visiting my Vietnamese friend's family and it is very important to know about this, interesting information about the vietnamese culture. 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. Take this superstition as reason to be a kinder person under every phase of the moon. As an old Vietnamese saying put it, a dog coming into your house signifies good fortune. Those are for good luck. 1. 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. 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. However, the owner can change that by changing the arrangement of their home and surrounding environment according to feng shui to harness lucky energy. Vietnamese believe a person's soul wanders after death. However, some have roots deeply integrated in our culture that theyve become a part of Vietnamese social etiquette. Here are 13 superstitions concerning death and dying that persist today and explanations of their possible origins. In Vietnamese culture, religion dictates some of the rituals in the dying and bereavement process. 9:00-11:00 a.m.: Get ready to party! 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. In Chinese culture, the reason behind the superstition surrounding the number 4 lies in the way it sounds. While you should refrain from using your phone for leisure during the service, it is acceptable to take photos and videos during the funeral. 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. 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 altar from home is placed on top of the gravesite. Red represents happiness. Reasons? Some of them are: burning votive paper, meeting fortune tellers to ask for a prediction of future, especially some negative superstitions prevent some young couples from marriage because of their contrasting ages. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other peoples houses. Family members will burn fake items made of paper such as money, iPhones, jewelry, and cars. 8.7K. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. , check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! In Vietnamese superstitions, people believe that their house comes with a history and negative or positive energy of their own. The priest then conducts a. 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. 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. In the past, a Vietnamese funeral could last up to a month or more. 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. The Vietnamese strongly believe that a person should die at home and be surrounded by his family. Nowadays, though, a lot of dentists are recommending that these baby teeth are preserved. One popular dish during these special meals would be bun bo, a hearty beef and noodle soup, perhaps to sustain families for futures without their loved ones who have died. So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes. The deceased is viewed with similar reverence to the living and so the same norms for taking pictures apply. 1. Then you might be a superstitious person. More distant relatives such as grandchildren may wear yellow headbands. 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. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck. This extends from the belief that loved ones will receive these items in the afterlife. A series of prayers or blessings will occur during this time if the deceased was religious. There are many kinds of fortune-telling in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese really love fortune-telling. Japanese, and Korean languages, the number sounds like the word for "death". Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during. In Vietnam, it is common for the deceased to remain at home after their death until the funeral. Vietnamese Buddhist Funeral Customs (49 days). List. Our Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory staff considers it an honor to help families pay tribute to their loved ones after they die. 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. 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 first stage, "Nhap Quan" (entering the coffin), consists of the dead body being cleaned with alcohol or water ("Vietnamese Funerals," n.d. para. Their origins may surprise you. 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Guests are on their way. Sometimes, people can also t va after returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them. Two congregations and their funeral rites the death body and place it inside the coffin ) building is such valuable. 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