Philippine Superstitions

[Dave H]

Most cultures have their superstitions. If I am not mistaken, the Japanese rinse rice (I mean linse lice) before cooking an odd number of times. I have found some superstitions in the Philippines quite amusing or at least interesting. Others can be annoying...like smoking the hell out of fruit trees several times every day before they start to produce fruit. I am not sure how that works, since most of the smoke seems to miss the trees and goes into neighbors' homes. Even though I don't consider myself a superstitious person, a few are actually starting to get to me.   But, I still eat ice cream and drinking cold beverages day and night. I still take baths on rainy days...which they should be very thankful for!  

The other day my Filipino neighbor gave me 21 dried banaba leaves (contains corosolic acid) to boil in water, cool, then drink. It is supposed to aid several medical conditions. He told me that if I wanted to make smaller batches, I could boil 7 or 14 leaves. The formula always required multiples of 7. Just to be me...I only boiled 13 leaves.   I will let you know if it feels like it is working.  


Most Filipinos always make the sign of the cross before they ride in a car vehicle (including airplanes). It is a Catholic thing. Driving in South Florida and the Philippines, that is one thing that I adopted very quickly! I figured that it certainly couldn't hurt. In fact, I do it several times to be extra safe. Whenever I see a Filipino make the sign of a cross, I quickly follow because we may just about to kiss our azzes goodbye! I am looking for a very strong "anting-a nting" (amulet). The next time I am in South Florida, I am going to buy a dashboard full of saints at a "botanica" to mount in my car...honest!


Dave

[Hank]

You drive in the Phil's ? You are either the bravest man I have come across or maybe the craziest ? 

[stevjulietb]

Hank, Dave is a lot of both, and an all around great guy!

Steveb


Dave     after this post I can hammer on you a bit!

Steveb

[Dave H]

Dave     after this post I can hammer on you a bit!

Steveb

Absolutely Steve!

But you will have to wait until next Easter in the Philippines.

Dave

[Dave H]

You drive in the Phil's ? You are either the bravest man I have come across or maybe the craziest ? 

Hey Hank,

Definately more crazy than brave!  But, I do have a very loud horn! 

Dave

[Bear]

Honey and I have been married almost 9 years now.  She still comes at me with "old-wives tales" she learned from her mother.  I'll sit there and act like a witch doctor and shake something at her say "that woman never existed", "forget your dreams".  Things like "Don't take a bath if you have a fever?" Ahh come on probably the best thing you can do to break it.

The Bear Family

[Ray]

It’s bad luck to have money on the table while eating.

Don’t go to bed with wet hair or you’ll wake up crazy, blind, or both. 

Don’t give shoes or slippers as a gift to a loved one or they will walk out on you. The curse can be cancelled out if the recipient “pays for” the shoes with a nominal amount of cash (10c?)

If you step on or even pass close by a mound of dirt (like a gopher mound or ant hill), you need to say “tabi tabi po” to excuse yourself just in case a Duwende (dwarf?) lives down there. You don’t even want a Duwende mad at you! 

I’ve been told by several Filipinos that rice should be washed exactly 3 times. When I asked why, nobody knew. It’s just understood to be good luck. 

Hey Dave, other than before meals, my wife blesses herself before leaving the house to go somewhere, before getting into a car, before going swimming, or when getting into the shower (?)

Ray

[thekfc]

I am originally from the Caribbean & we do have our superstition - as a kid I was scared silly by the adults & still believe is some of them. I do make the sign of the cross - maybe because I grew up as a catholic.

Do "not taking a bath on a Friday" one of the Filipino's superstition?
I ask because  while chatting, 2 different  ladies stated that they needed to take a bath,  I told them go ahead, take it &  I will wait until they are finish, they said no & that they will take a bath tomorrow instead. And this happened on more than one occasion & mostly on a Friday.

[Dave H]

Hey Dave, other than before meals, my wife blesses herself before leaving the house to go somewhere, before getting into a car, before going swimming, or when getting into the shower (?)

Ray

Hey Ray,

I will have to keep a better eye on my wife.    I know she blesses herself after getting into the car.  I usually wait until I travel a few yards and have my first close call at the intersection nearbye.

Our baby sometimes likes to put one of his feet in his mouth. People are telling us that means he wants another sibling.

My brother-in-law (American) is thinking about writing a book about all of the Philippine superstitions he has heard after living here for years. I wish he would. His stories are always very amusing...at least to foreigners!

Dave

[Dave H]

Do "not taking a bath on a Friday" one of the Filipino's superstition?
I ask because  while chatting, 2 different  ladies stated that they needed to take a bath,  I told them go ahead, take it &  I will wait until they are finish, they said no & that they will take a bath tomorrow instead. And this happened on more than one occasion & mostly on a Friday.

Hey the kfc,

Some Filipinos won't take a bath on Good Friday or any Friday." My wife and her immediate family don't believe in it.

Taking a bath (Philippines)

"Never take a bath on Good Friday to commiserate and suffer with the death of Christ, thus showing your devotion and piety. For the same reason, some parents even prohibit their children to take a bath on Fridays.

Never take a bath on the day of your birthday as it brings bad luck."

My wife doesn't like to go to bed with her hair wet. Not because she thinks it could make you "wake up crazy, blind, or both" (Ray posted) as some Filipinos believe. However, I think that may be what happened to me!   She always gets a headache...probably because I blast the aircon!

Dave

[Freddie_May]

Great topic!!

Are western people really believe superstitions ?

We have lots of superstitions in indonesia, but i have one special.

When I was growing up, my mom told me not to sit on the doorway, they said if a girl sit on the doorway she will have problem finding a husband..
That's why I am still single, i guess...

When u sweep the floor, don't left any dust behind, coz then u will have a hairy husband.. Silly, I know..

And lots lots more..

[Ray]

When u sweep the floor, don't left any dust behind, coz then u will have a hairy husband..

Freddie, you almost killed me with that one!

Don't stop now! This is all very fascinating...

Ray

[Dave H]

When u sweep the floor, don't left any dust behind, coz then u will have a hairy husband.. Silly, I know..

Hey Freddie,

I don't think that Latinas learned that one! 

Dave

[Freddie_May]

Looking back now, I think I didn't sweep as clean as thought...

[thekfc]

Let's keep it going.

I have a few superstitions - someone let me know if they believe those too:

Do not sweep over someone's feet, they will never marry. I had to highlight that one. hehe

If a lizard drops on a woman, she is going to get pregnant or is already pregnant.

Don't bathe in the sea on Good Friday - you will turn into a fish.

When pregnant- drinking a lot of chocolate milk will make the baby dark skinned- drinking milk instead, will make the baby looking fair

If you put your handbag on the floor/ground you will never have money.

If your second toe is bigger than your big toe then you are going to beat or rule your husband.

When you comb your hair and what is left on the comb is thrown outside, if a bird gets it and makes a nest, then you will get a headache.

Never take out the trash after 6, your taking the wealth out of your house.

Never give someone a lamp that you have used, it brings bad luck.

Do not cut your hair on odd days, like Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, same for trimming your nails, this is also leading the way for bad luck.

Don't cross over someone, especially if it is a female over a male or vice versa, it is possible for them to take your illnesses, or misfortunes that way. You have to re-cross that person so the "bad luck" don't happen.

[thekfc]

Always put a hot pepper in food that will be travelling at night, that way you ward off the spirits from entering your home.

Always turn your back to the inside of the house when opening the door at night (usually after midnight), that way the sprits/ghosts that have followed you home, will see your face and will not enter. I used to believe in that one

Do not pass a knife or pepper to anyone - it will cause you to have an argument with them.

If a dog barks incessantly and there is nothing there, the dog is seeing a spirit/ghost.

If you want to see a spirit/ghost, put wax from a dog's eye into yours.

If the palm of your left hand itches, you will get money.
 
If the palm of your right hand itches, you will lose money.
 
If your right eye jumps, you will see someone you have not seen in a long time.
 
If you bite your tongue, someone is speaking about you.
 
If you eat cheese late at night ( or play with your shadow), you will have bad dreams.
 
If someone close to you dies, cover all the mirrors in your house with black cloth until after you are buried, otherwise you will see them in it.
 
A butterfly in the house means good luck.
 
If a pigeon drops on you, you will get good luck.

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day and all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning material put away.

Sweeping should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune be swept away.

To sweep the dust of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away good fortune.

When you call a persons name mistakenly in a conversation, it means that the person you have called is calling your name.

When a woman cuts her hair short she looses her wisdom.

[Ray]

Before I was married in the Philippines, I did some research on traditional Filipino wedding practices and found a lot of folklore and superstitions associated with weddings, including the following:

It’s good luck if it rains on your wedding day.

But, if you’re have an outdoor function and don’t want it to rain, you can donate fresh eggs to the Sisters of Saint Claire and they will supposedly pray for no rain on your wedding day.

When walking up to the altar, if the bride steps on the groom’s foot, he will be “under the saya” (PW’d) in the marriage. But if he steps on her foot in turn, the curse is lifted.

If the groom sits down before the bride, he will be “under the saya”.

Two candles are lit during the traditional wedding ceremony, one for the bride and one for the groom. If a candle goes out during the ceremony, that person will die first in the marriage.

If someone drops the ring or any of the coins during the ceremony, the couple will have an unhappy marriage.

If the bride has her menstruation on the wedding day, the couple will have many children (?).

If the bride tries on the gown before the wedding day, the wedding will be cancelled.

Do not give knives or sharp objects as wedding gifts.

It is unlucky for brothers/sisters to marry during the same year.

Ray

[thekfc]

Just resurrecting an old thread.

I got this one straight from Ahya.

It is good luck to marry on a day with a circle in the date.

[evoltnvii]

I really enjoy learning about local superstitions its fun to understand some of the strange and interesting things other cultures perceive as the cause of something good or bad

[robert angel]

All this is ridiculous. I'm too smart to be superstitious, because I KNOW it's bad luck to be that way!

[dewey4350]

Ever heard of the one about there backs getting wet??? I know I have read some of you say they do not like you to perspire while you are around them over there. My lady thinks that her back getting wet some how causes her asthma attacks.