Blogtober #28

Blogtober #28: Things You're Superstitious About

I come from a very superstitious family, mainly because we are chinese and the chinese culture is very superstitious. It is totally fine by me because I have grown up this way. Here are the things that are constantly reiterated in my household.

1. No Kneeling

This is for praying and is seen as to be disrespectful when we do it out of context. Sit on your butt on squat instead. Asian squat. 

2. Don't open an umbrella inside the house

This has something to do with ghosts according to our old chinese school teacher. My Grandma has always told me this, but never quite got round to explaining why. I still follow this rule.

3. Whistling at night

Once again this calls for something, like many superstitions it has never quite been explained.

4. Don't brush somebody's foot, or hit them with the broom.

Not quite sure what this one does either, although it is seen as giving bad luck.

5. The number 8

In chinese the number 8 sounds like the word meaning to 'prosper', this is an extremely popular one. When you see a number plate with multiple 8's on it, it is probably a rich chinese person.

6. Bathing with leaves the day/evening before Chinese New Year, other CNY traditions such as not eating meat the day of CNY.

It is seen as good luck and I believe also good for your health.

7. Do not wash your hair or body on CNY.

This is essentially washing away all your good luck you that you are retrieving during CNY.

8. An unmarried couple staying in the same house (if girl) as their parents will bring bad luck to their parents or grandparents. 

Not so sure about this one either, and english culture seems to have changed this for many chinese families in England. But my mum and dad are still pretty superstitious when it comes down to this.

The chinese culture is full of little superstitions, these are very popular ones. Not everybody follows everything, some families follow some more than others, and being in England changes some family dynamics. However, these are the ones my family still seem to follow pretty rigourously.