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Post by toyomansi on Jan 12, 2009 16:17:18 GMT -5
Did you ever meet Asian superstitions, about things that will bring good luck/bad luck, bring you money etc.? When I spilled uncooked rice on the floor, I wasn't allowed to sweep it up and had to pick each grain up by hand.  I asked my mom why, and she just said: "Because. It's not good to sweep them up, they say it will bring bad luck." Later, she explained that picking them up will ensure you enough rice/food in the future. Before New Year's, my mom told me to make sure I had rice and salt in my dorm. Because that would ensure me more than enough food (and everything else I need) for the new year ;D My mom was once interviewed by a local newspaper about her culture's way of celebrating New Year's and in her picture she was wearing a polka-dot scarf, because wearing polka-dots on New Year's Eve would ensure you money and wealth for the new year. (She doesn't follow these customs 100%, but is faithful to them, because that's what the old people used to tell them in the motherland  ) My friend used to dress her little son in red, because it would protect him and keep all evil away. I'm just curious if you know about other customs similar to these? I don't know that much about it, but I find it interesting... ;D |
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Post by cjsdad on Jan 12, 2009 17:01:28 GMT -5
MIL is chock full of great ones.
No fans on at night, esp. directed at your head.
Women should not sit on cold stone.
Don't tickle your infant.
Seaweed, seaweed, seaweed postpartum. If you think you've had enough, eat more seaweed.
Something about a cow. Don't remember how that one goes.
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Post by Emily on Jan 12, 2009 17:05:38 GMT -5
My mom is very superstitious, it's silly. On top of Filipino superstitions, she sometimes brings home superstitions from other cultures, as she's befriended an ethnically varied bunch at her office. As if she didn't abide to enough superstitions. On NYE, all drawers, doors have to be open so good luck/fortune can sort of come to them, I guess. One mustn't spend money on New Year day, because it's going to set the tone for the year. Her Italian friend claims one shouldn't eat meat on New Year day for God knows which reason. My mom always leaves at least a few coins in all of her purses, because they should never be without money. Money should never be left on a table. Whenever I travel, my mom always stuffs a bag of M&M in my luggage. If someone leaves the house and people are still eating, one must turn their plate one full circle so that nothing will happen to the person exiting. I know I'm missing many of them. |
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Post by Subuatai on Jan 12, 2009 17:09:29 GMT -5
In the middle of the night don't chuck a pee in the snow cause your bits will fall off ;D
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Post by Emily on Jan 12, 2009 17:24:41 GMT -5
^^ Hmm, nope, can't say I've heard of that one. My dad says his mother was also very superstitious and that many of the superstitions my mom adheres to are the same as his mom's. I guess these would be superstitions stemming from the Catholic religion. I just thought of one I like the idea of. My paternal grandmother would always keep on the table what she called the "traveller's plate," in case someone where to knock at the door and need assistance. Not exactly a superstition, but a nice thing to do.  |
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furbob
Full Member
Can I has?
Posts: 247
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Post by furbob on Jan 12, 2009 20:40:35 GMT -5
my friend was shocked when I told her I had rice on my birthday and told me "you have to eat noodles on your birthday"
Eat noodles on your birthday as it represents "long life"
Eating rice is bad luck as it represents "short life"
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quiapo
Junior Member
Posts: 188
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Post by quiapo on Jan 12, 2009 20:56:13 GMT -5
In the Philippines, when moving house you instal rice, salt and wine in the kitchen first, before moving in anything else. It is a nice ritual, and the only one I follow. There is sometimes an overlap between religiouis parctice and superstition - such as the house blessing shorlty after moving in.
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Post by betahat on Jan 13, 2009 15:00:27 GMT -5
My grandma has a few, many of which have already been mentioned and seem to be typical Chinese ones-
Like furbob, you eat long noodles on new years to have a long life.
The complexion of your future spouse will be like your plate so you best not be leaving any grains of rice behind.
On New Years, open doors and windows and no cleaning because you want the good luck to come in and don't want to sweep it away.
And weirdest of all, no cutting your hair or nails after dark (this one I have no idea, probably something to do with bad people taking your hair or nails to do voodoo type stuff).
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Post by gatorade on Jan 14, 2009 21:45:53 GMT -5
I just ignore them
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Post by paul101 on Jan 17, 2009 17:16:46 GMT -5
I'm not allowed say 4 in Chinese on Chinese New year.
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Post by juancarlos on Jan 19, 2009 4:09:20 GMT -5
Never go to bed with your hair wet cos you'll get nightmares and may even die in your sleep.
When you pass through a mound of dirt (i.e ant hill), you must excuse yourself with the dwarf who might live there.
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Dirt
Junior Member
Historian
Posts: 154
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Post by Dirt on Jan 20, 2009 12:15:13 GMT -5
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Post by penguinopolipitese on Jan 20, 2009 13:46:11 GMT -5
Vietnamese tradition holds spending more than $5 for something means you go to hell. since all vietnamese are catholics this is serious business.
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Post by swinger on Jan 20, 2009 13:51:03 GMT -5
Vietnamese tradition holds spending more than $5 for something means you go to hell. since all vietnamese are catholics this is serious business. No wonder those Banh Mi are so cheap... |
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Post by alphamikefoxtrot on Jan 23, 2009 1:47:46 GMT -5
^
Were you reading Snopes recently?
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I asked my mom why, and she just said: "Because. It's not good to sweep them up, they say it will bring bad luck." Later, she explained that picking them up will ensure you enough rice/food in the future.
)
