Filipinos are known to be superstitious in some ways. We may have inherited these habits after the Spanish colonizers stayed in the country for more than 300 years. Our ancestors believed in a lot of things and so, the descendants were able to sustain these beliefs serving a lot of meanings to every circumstance.
My early childhood was mostly spent with my grandparents. As I was growing up, there are times when my grandma would tell me a lot of things that confused me without showing scientific proof which never happened. So, I just followed what she told me.
Here are some of the superstitious beliefs that I grew up with:
Jumping every New Year's Eve
I was taught by my parents to always give my best shot. So I did. I jump so high every New Year's eve and when reality starts to kick in, I realized that I was only making a fool of myself. Obviously, it didn't work. Did it work for you? Congratulations!
The family always celebrates New Year and Christmas in our grandparents' house. As children who were too obedient to what these adults are telling us jump to the highest level.
As years passed by, puberty hit me and I was drowned with insecurity. My cousins grew taller than me and I was left feeling so little to myself.
That's when it started that on every New Year's eve, I distance myself from them because I get insecure every time they do it. Now that we are already adults, the belief was passed to our younger generations and these kids are the next victims.
Dropping kitchen utensils means someone will visit you at home
In birthday celebrations, I have witnessed countless times when someone drops their spoon or fork and then they'll say that someone will visit at home.
When you drop a fork, a male visitor will come into your house. Otherwise, if you drop a spoon, you would expect a female visitor will come into your house.
But I never witnessed it though, if my memory serves me right. At least to my extreme recall. Why do these utensils were associated with gender? How about dropping a ladle? Will it make a difference? How about dropping a knife? That would be dangerous. I supposed.
This belief is also gender-biased. How about our friends who express themselves out of these two labels?
Naah, maybe I just went too far but I just find it silly. However, as they say, you won't lose anything if you believe these beliefs.
Bringing food from a wake or funeral to your home means bad luck
Based on my experience, I was with my colleagues when we attended a wake of the mother of our fellow instructor in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.
While on travel, I remember I bought biscuits and placed them in my bag. I forgot to eat it because I fell asleep while riding. When we arrived there, we comforted our fellow instructor and had chats with her.
I forgot the biscuits I bought and so I carried it back to where I stayed in Davao. I was told by my parents to not bring food home from a wake but at that time, I completely lost my mind to it.
I even gave the biscuit to my student whom I stayed with. It was late when she asked about the biscuit and I told her that I bought it and had it accompanied with me going home.
Does the situation count? It didn't come from the wake to be exact though. The next thing I know, I learned that my student lost her aunt months after that circumstance.
So, is this true? Or maybe it's just coincidental.
Sweeping the floor at night magnets bad luck
I guess every Filipino knows this superstition. We were told that sweeping the floor at night is bad luck.
If you sweep, it means that you sweep away the blessings outside your house.
What does it have to do with time? Does dirt signify good luck? How come?
What if someone stepped on a dry poop and it leaves marks on the floor with an undesirable smell, or a pack full of toxic elements laying on the floor? Would you consider it as good luck? I don't think so.
My parents taught me that if the situation really demands you to sweep, leave it at the back of the door and continue in the morning.
The same goes with cutting your nails at night.
What does it have to do with time? Well, I found the reason behind it. Perhaps, our ancestors believe that these things are prohibited because they don't have a sufficient amount of light so they have a higher chance of hurting themselves.
Sleeping while your hair is wet could make you go blind or crazy
My grandmother used to tell me this. Sleeping while your hair is wet could make you go crazy or blind.
This frightened me to my nerves so I always make sure that when I sleep my hair is dry. Even up to now. I got used to it. There is no scientific proof for this though but one thing I noticed, I grew white hair when I slept with wet hair one time. Or maybe that was just coincidental.
Your thoughts about this?
There are still some superstitious beliefs I wanna share with you about my experiences but I am gonna cut this off for now and stay tuned for the next part.
Thanks for reading!
Keep safe everyone. ❤
'Yung pagtalon talaga sa Bagong Taon. Natatandaan ko pa 'nung bata pa ako, since 'di namin talaga s'ya ginagawa is patago akong tumatalon sa lababo namin kapag busy na ang lahat sa pagkain pero wala eh. Walang talab. Hahahaha! Tapos 'yung sa utensils, kapag daw fork ang nalaglag is lalaki ang bisita tapos babae naman kapag kutsara. So, ano naman kapag sandok ang nalaglag? 🤣