THE SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IN MALAYSIA

Superstitious is well known as a belief or practice that been made upon one’s trust in luck or others unscientific and irrational methods. All these happen in the first place due to from one’s ignorance, blind trust on magic and supernatural, and misunderstand toward concept how science work contribute toward this situation.

Thus these are the superstitious that most of Malaysian been grown up with. Most of it been made in order to bring advice and warning about the effect that come from its. It is after one of the unique ways, parent in the past cultivate their child behavior and discipline at the time.  These situation occur due to the influence from their surrounding and culture that been cultivate among the people at the time.

1. Sweeping the house at night brings bad luck

Summary:

 Sweeping the house at night is considered as forbidden and off limits for most families in Malaysia It is due to strong believed that this action will brings bad luck while the good luck is being ‘swept away’ during the sweeping section been made. 

Explanation:

The logic behind all this is that it is difficult to sweep the house during night time due to the fact of low visibility and it is dark. Thus the sweeping can be made in the mornings or afternoons which provides much more daylight, therefore making the task a lot easier.

2. The forbidden number 4

Summary:

Let’s talk in simpler terms about the fear of the number 4. This happen specially common among the Chinese community. it is a usual sight to see elevators and houses being labelled as 3A, rather than 4. As the number 4 can also be read as death causing this number is believed to be bad luck and anyone possess it shall become one quickly.

Explanation:

In Mandarin, the number 4, si, sounds similar to the word ‘death’, sǐ. Hence, it is not exactly practical and comfortable to live in a house that been labelled as ‘death’. Thus it is understanding that why these number is so fear until now as it have its own infamous reputation among chinese society.

3. Do not cut your nails at night

Summary:

Clipping your nails after the sun sets is a taboo, why? It is due to the belief that the action is equivalent to snipping away your lifespan bit by bit with every nail you clip. So majority parent will prohibit this action or be prepared for a premature death the next time you decide to give yourself a nail clipping section after at night.

Explanation:

The explanation for this strange belief is simply due to the lack of light at night makes this task more difficult and more risky in injuring yourself in the process. There are no electricity and light lamp on night to provide light in the night thus this action deem as reckless and irrational to the eye of people that time.  

4. Do not shake your legs uncontrollably

Summary:

How many of us have become victim to a long lecture from our parent or grandparent after being caught shaking our legs nonchalantly? This casual action pastime is believed to be a belief as to why your wallets become always empty. Shaking your legs is seen as ‘shaking away’ your wealth and prosperity thus causing all your fortune to be spread shaking away as you always shaking nonchalantly all time.

Explanation:

The logic in this is due to we only do shaking our legs when we’re free or bored without any plan in mind. Thus this statement show how we fill our free time doing nothing rather than doing something. Hence, this superstition was probably established as another way of telling you get stop shaking your leg and do something that benefit to others.

5. Never allow your plate become dry after eating

Summary:

This is a very famous practice among the Indian community. Once you finish a meal, you are supposed to clean your plate or just pour a small amount of water onto it just to make it moist. The whole point is to prevent the plate from going dry is to prevent your food supply going dry out without any spare for your family to eat later.

Explanation:

The right explanation behind this is to teach the responsibility of dishwashing. Furthermore, the leftover food on the plate going to dry if not immediately wash and going to make the dishwashing going hard latter on.

6. Do not look at shatter mirror

Summary:

Break a mirror and you’ll not look forward to the next few years of your life. It is believe that when you shatter a mirror and look into it, you will cut your own life year and going to have only few year to live by.

Explanation:

It is easy to explain, the mirror is made of glass. Glass is sharp and cleaning up after a mess is a tedious and rather dangerous task, not to mention looking at it. You should feel the goose bump from looking how sharp the shattered mirror pieces are.

7. Do not go out after sunset

Summary:

It is said that there a Pontianak (female vampire) hanging out on the tree after the sunset come. That’s why majority kid was stuck at home after night come so that they will not been kidnap by the spirit. Not to mention that sometime even an adult going missing at night without traces.

Explanation:

Back on the day our ancestor live, there is no electricity at night and it is dangerous for kids and even an adult to go outside due to wild beast and insect that synonymous with night come out. Thus that’s why this superstitious occur in order to make sure the children well behave in home at night while forbid them stay outside once the night come too long.

So which superstitious do you believe or you grow up familiar with? Even thought, it is seem ridiculous for people nowadays but its hold a significant in shaping our behavior society and one of our interesting cultures that we been inheriting from the past generation. Thus it is very important to understand the meaning behind these entire forbidden acts first.

 Author: Mohd Imran Tashiron