"Malaysian Taboos Cultural"

For this entry, I would like to share about Malaysian culture which consist of major ethnic in Malaysia which Malays, Chinese and Indians. Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when foreign trade began. Here, I will share about taboos cultural among multi-ethnic in Malaysia.

Malay

•  Do not play during dawn.
• Do not sit on the pillow or else you will sores on your backside.
• Do not sing in the kitchen, or you, woman, will marry someone who is way older than you expect.
•  Do not urine on termite bunk, or your (male) penis might be swollen.
•  If you accidentally bite your tongue that means someone is speaking bad of you.
•  You are not supposed to play outdoors especially for kids during Maghrib; during sunset.
•  Do not open an umbrella at home because a snake would come out from the inner center of the umbrella.
•  Pregnant women should watch her words while talking. For example, she is not allowed to talk about illness of somebody else. If she does so, the unborn baby will develop disabilities.
• Nails should not be cut at night because it is believed that the person’s life will be shortened.
• Women are not allowed to use a broken mirror because she could have a pale face during her wedding.

•  Seeing your sweetheart 40 days before the Ijab Kabul- It’s certainly not encouraged to see your future husband or wife within the 40 days before the ijab Kabul (holy matrimony) is taking place. It’s done so to avoid the future newlyweds from imputation of society as well as other bad things.

Chinese

•             Chinese people believe number 8 is good fortune or luck. Number 8 (ba) is pronounce similar to ‘pa’ which mean prosper (prosperity).
•          Number 4 is often avoided as it is considered bad luck. It has same pronunciation to the word of ‘death’ (se).
•       They also believe they must avoid whistling at night. According to the old folks, it will attract the wandering spirits who then follow them home.

•           When visiting sick people, never offer pears as it is a symbol that the patient will die. It is also a taboo to give red flowers as it signifies blood. It is appropriate to give white and yellow flowers, which is the colors of yang life.
•          The Chinese will completely clear their house before New Year’s Day for good fortune in the coming year. But, they do not sweep during Chinese New Year’s because they believe it will sweep away all the good fortune. So,  will sweep their house a day before the New Year.
•          Hungry Ghost Festival – held during the seventh lunar month. In order to avoid seeing ghosts, people should not go outside at night. Celebrations liked weddings are not held. Fishermen will not launch new boats and many people opt to postpone their trips during the Hungry Ghost Month. Some revelers avoid swimming as the souls of those who die by drowning are considered to be in the greatest turmoil. Some people refuse to go swimming to lessen the chance of a run-in with wayward ghosts.

Indian

•  Do not proceed, if a cat cuts across your way. If a cat crosses the path, wait for a while and then move ahead as a cat cutting ones path is a bad omen.
•  If there is itching in the right palm (left for female) you can get some money or favors.
• Never call one back when the person is leaving the house. As if you are calling the bad spirit to come over your house.
• Do not let the guest of your house the work. For example, do not let them clean up the dishes. They believe it will give bad luck and harm to the host because the dishes they believed that work should probably do by the host not the guest.
•  While having a meal, do not eat in the dark. The old folks believe that bad omen will share and join the food when you are eating in the dark.
•  If a cat is heard crying, it is a bad omen.
• At times, there is fluttering of eyes. (it happens to a lot of people) even that indicates the happening of good and bad in their lives ( good if right eye flutters and bad the other way or something like that.
•  When there is a death, the picture of deceased will hang upside-down and the furniture should bring outside of the house. The family of the dead must encircle the dead for three times anti-clockwise.