It is the grandest and most magnificent festival in Chinese folk tradition. In Filipino culture, butterflies are known to symbolize a deceased person's soul. They said that the dead tries to show themselves in mirrors, so they must be covered with a cloth. Chinese New Year. 8. In China, the major gift-giving occasions are birthdays, the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Gift Giving in China - FAQ's. Before getting stuck into our rules we've got a little treat for you…. This is because eight (八 - bā) sounds sort of similar to the word for prosperity/wealth (发 - fā). Therefore, it is okay to marry within 100 days from the day he dies. Chinese superstition says this will invite bad luck to these individuals. 23. The Chinese believe that a daughter is useless because she cannot work or support her parents; when she marries she changes her family name and her children become . 40 years is the only date that is not celebrated in Ukraine, especially for men. If the bird is white then the news will be good, but if it is black then it will be bad and this could mean the death of a family member. 5:00-7:00 a.m.: A special guest is on his or her way. A New Zealand superstition held that hearing a Kāreke (marsh crake) over your right shoulder was good luck, but over your left shoulder would lead to having a " crook trot "—old New Zealand . In the Chinese language, the word "hair" (发, fā) is the same character and the same pronunciation as the word "to get rich . Red is the color of good fortune and vitality. If the clasp of your necklace winds up in front, you can make a wish as you move the clasp back to the nape of your neck. Other information resources that were used as references: Guide to Chinese funeral . 11. Immediate and extended family and friends attend the wake. 5 European Robin. Chinese Culture >> Chinese Superstitions. 四 (four) is pronounced si (四 sì (si) [ssuh] - like a snake with 'uh' (say the vowel in the back of your throat)). When paying visits to relatives and friends during the Spring Festival, you may prepare a small . 20. Observing the Chinese traditions and customs around you and adapting is the key to fully enjoying your journey in China. 4.1 It is bad luck to see a magpie; 4.2 Magpies bring good luck. In Chinese tradition, it is only the responsibility of the young to show their respect by holding a funeral -- traditional belief dictates that elders should not hold a funeral for the young. In Korea, many believe that turning on a fan in a closed room at night can kill a person. Lychee = close family ties. Fish served from head to tail = an abundant and prosperous year from beginning to end. Chinese New Year is a season that has it all: snacking on goodies, receiving angbaos and bonding with family and friends through dinners and games like mahjong. A St. Christopher medal brings good luck to sailors and other travelers. You will get an invitation to some partying or feasting. 6. Chinese funeral guests can be expected to give the grieving family money, 奠儀 (diàn yí), at the funeral or one day prior. When eating fish, diners must be careful to not break . Fan Death. Traditionally, the period called "wake" precedes the actual funeral. 1. White gloves, ostrich plumes and a white coffin were the standard. Peaches : stand for long life. For example, buying a house facing the North would bring in ruin to the family. Chinese take lucky and unlucky numbers, for example, very seriously. When the wake is held in a household, cover all the mirrors with cloth. Family and friends are visiting or contemplating it: Goat (1300 - 1500) . Why Indians still hold these beliefs. Gift Giving in China Tip #4 - Use Both Hands. what kind of chinese superstitions are there? Published: February 18, 2022 2:02 pm. Chinese customs dictate that before . Often, a person who is dying in a hospital will be brought home to die peacefully, surrounded by loving family members and friends. Held either in the family home or local temple, this period lasts for several days, wherein family members and close friends are expected to bring flowers for the deceased. 1. It's a tradition for women to wail in grief. Patting it may extinguish the flame which supposedly wards off bad luck. (Pixabay/Stock photo) According to Licauco, there have been several accounts where people would encounter butterflies during mournings or wakes. Like 'knocking on wood,' this superstition also involves the idea of 'warding off evil' - in this case, the Devil himself. There is no clear explanation towards "Fan death", but this superstition starts in the 19 th century. Water with fish. There is a tremendous difference between the two sexes. 9. 4: Birdcalls Can Mean Plenty. Chinese Funeral Taboo #4: Do not look at the coffin when they are closing it. A white cloth will be hung outside the front door of the house to announce that the family is in mourning. Some believe that if a bird flies into your house it is bringing important news. China - a singing magpie will bring good fortune and is a symbol of happiness and good luck. . Top left eyelid twitch. Grapes (葡萄, pútaó) - wealth, abundance, fertility. Do you remember the Beijing Olympics and its . You're also never supposed to . That is why many buildings forgo 4th-floors since no one wants to live at a cursed address. . It stands for a fresh start and new hope. 11:00 pm - 1:00 am. Modern Chinese people have done away with this feudalistic superstition, and visit friends on the 3rd day of the Spring Festival. Read on for 10 dos and don'ts to guide you through the art of Chinese gift-giving. Sometimes a white banner is hung above the door of the bereaved household, and mourners often wear subdued colours. Gift Giving in China Tip #2 - Wrap Up Properly. To my Mother, death, like dog shit in a dog park, is everywhere. 2. The Thai belief that whistling or singing at night is bad luck may have a practical origin, as making noise at night could attract nearby . Gift Giving in China Tip #3 - Pay Attention To Your Card. 9. One can't give 4 presents as it is also considered bad luck. It is believed that if you look at the coffin while it is closing, the soul is unable to depart peacefully. Mourners should not visit two wakes in the same day. Red is the color of good fortune and vitality. Otherwise, they might die next or cause one of their family members to die. France - evil nuns are thought to be reincarnated as magpies. But one thing is common; many of them predict deaths to follow. 1. I'm the sack of rice my Dad is carrying. The number 4 on the other hand, is considered unlucky. New Member. Perhaps the next most common superstition, at least in the West, involves tossing salt over one's shoulder. Odd numbers are considered unlucky. While many wedding decorations are chosen based on the theme, venue or personal preference, Chinese wedding decorations have taboos on the colours used. Whistling up trouble. The family in mourning should not visit other friends' houses, but there is no restriction on them receiving visitors. People will often spill water behind a loved one who is about to go on a long trip, or . 1. Other Chinese superstitions involve ones house. The Thai belief that whistling or singing at night is bad luck may have a practical origin, as making noise at night could attract nearby . Superstition holds that birdsong holds the secret to understanding the world. Black and white colour presents are considered as a symbol of Death! While number eight is considered lucky as it is associated with wealth and prosperity, number four is not, because four and death are pronounced the same . Older chinese also observe a strict mourning period of either 1 or 3 years - during this period, the mourners must not attend weddings, chinese . Taoism, like Buddhism - the second-most-common choice for a funeral service in Hong Kong, followed by a Catholic ceremony - holds that humans undergo an endless cycle of death and rebirth. 2.2 If you see a cardinal, you will have good luck; 3 Owls. Visit Only One Wake in a Day. Do Not Wash Your Hair. When I was a kid, Chinese New Year was a hectic marathon. The traditional gift is an odd dollar amount, starting at $101, in a white envelope. We also share the proper behaviour to have in a slew of situations, so that once you have . Chinese people like superstitions so much that they've even adopted the Western superstition of the unlucky number thirteen. Merely mentioning mortality is believed to beget bad fortune, bringing the inevitability closer than it perhaps already is. During the wake, family and friends bring flowers, which are elaborate wreaths that include banners with couplets written on them, and white envelopes filled with cash. The majority of her family is still in Shanghai, though she also has cousins in New York and Australia. This is because the Chinese word for "death" and "four" is nearly the same. Taboo Words: The first thing you should pay attention to is your words. There are many Chinese New Year taboos to be wary of. Good Omens/Good Luck in Indian Culture. Death is the biggest taboo topic among Chinese people. Spilling water behind someone, in Serbia, actually brings them a lot of good luck! She grew up nearby in a Chinese household. It was also the year an . Chinese people see a fat kid as a sign of health, so my Mother fashioned me after a 20-lb sack of Jasmine rice. More traditional families will wear the pieces if cloth for up to three years. Gift Giving in China - DO NOT Do These. Do - Mark your calendars. Many Chinese Christians believe a person's body should be at home at the time of death. Do not place chopsticks upright in a bowl, ever. Shooting off firecrackers on Chinese New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new. According to Chinese superstition, you just made a bad move -- and could end up having bad luck for the rest of the year. This eventually led to the association of butterflies to the presence of a deceased person in our culture. Avoid the number 4 whenever possible. Someone has you in his or her thoughts. Regardless of the year you were born, there are certain customs and superstitions that many Chinese adhere to during the New Year. This may sound a little crazy, but you should avoid washing your hair during the first day of Chinese new year! There are numerous amount of superstitions, some more unusual than others. They So giving someone a pair of shoes is like giving them a bad spirit. If you want to visit friends, you should walk south as soon as you leave the house. Such traditional superstitions still . Play. Eight treasures pudding (八宝饭) = good luck, great fortune. 12. The colour white is associated with death in China, as in many Asian cultures. This year, it falls on February 1, 2022, and will begin the . White is the color reserved for death in Chinese culture. Parents used this as an excuse to get kids to knock off the habit of making noise at the table. The color of a gift can be significant. Expectant mothers shouldn't look inside the coffin. . 3. A groom carrying his bride over the threshold. You will receive a visit from a nobleman. For Chinese Moms, Birth Means 30 Days In Pajamas The age-old tradition known as "sitting the month" has strict rules. Some superstitions, such as not walking under ladders, seem to have extremely practical roots (no-one wants to be knocked off a ladder, or have something dropped on their head.) Read on for 10 dos and don'ts to guide you through the art of Chinese gift-giving. You must also avoid looking at your reflection in mirrors, too. Bad luck colors. Whistling up trouble. The word for "death" 死 is pronounced si (with falling intonation). If you want to be extra careful this year, here are 10 Chinese superstitions . Do - Mark your calendars. May 25, 2015. Here are 11 things you should avoid doing during the Chinese new year. Those who die young and without children . Even floral arrangements, like Pale yellow or white chrysanthemums, which are placed at . White is also the color of the unknown, purity, courage and strength. Updated: 2:18 pm; Covering your mouth when you yawn. For example, a dream about being abandoned may not be as bad as it sounds as it could mean that you will be . FILIPINO-CHINESE FOLK BELIEFS. 13. When the undertaker is closing the coffin at a Chinese funeral, the people will be instructed not to look at the coffin. The Chinese believe that there are 3 lights/flames on a person - on the forehead and one on each side of the shoulders. Egg (蛋, dàn) - fertility. Chinese dream interpretations and superstitions often differ from other cultures. A piece of colored cloth is worn on the sleeve of each of the family members for 100 days to signify mourning: Black is worn by the deceased's children, blue by the grandchildren and green by the great grandchildren. I think there was something like, can't celebrate any thing for X amount of time. 1. 9: Just as the number four has a bad-luck soundalike in Chinese, 9 is feared in Japan because it sounds . Some Chinese Superstitions. The ticking sound of this wood-boring beetle goes by many names, the most notable one being "the death watch.". This superstition arose because of the connection between the number '40' and death. Because of the similarities in pronunciation, the Chinese avoid anything to do with 4. Perhaps the superstitions surrounding rain date to a particularly wet area; if an epidemic followed a rainy spell, it would be easy to link the bad weather with the following deaths, and so a superstition was born. 1:00 am - 3:00 am. Regardless of the duration of the mourning period, these rules apply to the remaining relatives of the deceased during the mourning period: You cannot visit another person's house, especially during Chinese New Year. Other people, however, may visit your home. The larger the deceased's inheritance, the louder the wailing. Pregnant or engaged couples do not attend the funeral. A period of mourning is not required if the . Traditional Chinese funeral flowers are white. Before the creation of the Internet and round-the-clock news networks, people had little to work with in terms of gaining information or making predictions about future conditions. Expect a possible visit from a friend from afar. Right Eye Superstition. China. Mar 24, 2006. #6. Giving or receiving black items is said to always be bad luck, as the color black brings death with it. White was a popular color for the funeral of a child. A worrying occurrence, to you, is about to happen. Some of these superstitions are difficult to date. 10. Credit: Peter Ardito. The white envelopes are similar to red envelopes that are given at weddings. Many buildings in China skip a fourth floor, just as U.S. builders sometimes omit floor 13. The tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and is associated with bravery, confidence and strength. Saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes. When someone who is going on a trip sees a married lady with flowers on her head, and kumkum on her forehead, it is believed that the trip will be successful. These days, young, urban Chinese consumers are also likely to give gifts on Western holidays like . In the home of a person who died all the statues of gods will be covered in red paper. 3.1 Seeing an owl during the day signifies death; 4 Magpies. Another version of this superstition is that if a bird taps on your window or accidentally hits your window that too means an . Parents refrain from broaching the subject with their children to protect them; people pay extra for cellphone numbers without the digit 4, which sounds like the . Be Wary of Water. Primarily the whole idea comes from the Chinese word for shoes (鞋 xié) which sounds similar to evil (邪 xié ). If the person who died was over 80 years, guests may wear shades of pink to the funeral ceremony as it is considered a longevity milestone, and people . Most Chinese can provide an earful about the "curse of 1976," the year of the deaths of Mao, Prime Minister Zhou Enlai and Gen. Zhu De, the head of the Red Army. Put a stray eyelash in the palm of your hand, make a wish, and blow it away to make your wish come true. 10. Some superstitions, such as not walking under ladders, seem to have extremely practical roots (no-one wants to be knocked off a ladder, or have something dropped on their head.) You\\'ve decided to visit friends on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and as soon as you step out your front door, you turn right and head east. However, other names, depending on the area, exist and include: Clock of St. Paschal, St. John, St. Bernard, St. Anthony, St. Vital, or Madonna's. Bottom-left eyelid twitch and you believe in Chinese superstitions or are Chinese. When Minneapolis mom Janette Xiong was pregnant, her mother (a first-generation Hmong from Southeast Asia) advised her to avoid large . Gift Giving in China Tip #5 - Wait. In the home of a person who died all the statues of gods will be covered in red paper. 1. It is so because the number 4 in Chinese has the pronunciation similar to the word 'death'. Slide 1 of 9: Chinese New Year is the most widely celebrated Chinese holiday across the globe. Dumplings = abundance of wealth. Chinese grieving etiquette differs depending on whether the deceased was younger or older than those in mourning. DID YOU KNOW - In Chinese culture, we have 12 signs of the zodiac - mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog and pig. From shouting auspicious phrases during lo hei and giving out angbaos and even numbers, it's no surprise that CNY comes with lots of practices to follow.. When it comes to good luck, the magic number in China is eight. Here are just . 7. On the second day of New Year, Beijingers like to pray to the Cai Shen Deity, the god of prosperity. 7 Chinese Symbols That Represent Death. The real reason: The secret is plain and simple: good table manners. 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