The Philippines is a culturally rich country. Each region has its own customs and traditions about a wide range of topics, ranging from money to death.Many Filipinos, particularly the older generations and those who live in the province, place massive importance on superstitions. These people have established a link between pamahiin and their lives, experiences, and feelings.
While there is no logical evidence to prove the link, these pamahiin have long been passed on from one generation to generation. They influence various aspects of life, most especially marriage and death. With the desire to gaining control of their lives and out of respect for their elders, many Filipinos seek guidance through these beliefs.
Death is one aspect of life surrounded by various superstitious beliefs, focusing on the wake and burial of the dead. Our elders say that these pamahiin exist to avoid bringing bad luck to the bereaved, the visitors, and the deceased. Here are ten of the most common pamahiin surrounding death:
Avoid wearing clothes of red or any other bright color.
Wearing red or bright-colored clothes is forbidden during funerals, as it symbolizes joy. Wearing bright colors makes it appear as though you are celebrating, instead of grieving. Some families even decide to wear black for an entire year, only wearing bright-colored clothes again after the first death anniversary of the departed.
However, in the case of young children, wearing red is encouraged. It is believed to protect children from having nightmares. These nightmares include playing with dead relatives and other bizarre phenomena. Some also report children suddenly getting sick during the wake.
Avoid looking at your reflection in mirrors.
Everyone is discouraged from looking at their reflection in mirrors. This belief is because our elders believe that doing so may result in the dead showing themselves in the mirrors. It is also the reason why all mirrors in the wake are often covered.
Have at least one person watching over the casket.
Elders believe that it is necessary to have at least one person stay awake and watch over the casket at all times. This practice is meant to prevent an entity or a negative supernatural being from snatching the soul of the dead away.
Do not sweep the floor during the wake.
This superstition particularly applies to family members. It stems from the belief of some Filipinos that sweeping means you are trying to banish the spirit of the dead from the household. Sweeping at a wake is also believed to result in another death of a family member.
Hence, it is encouraged that family members pick up the trash for the entirety of the wake and wipe the floor with a wet cloth.
The bereaved should not say “thank you” to visitors.
While often a respectful thing to say, the words “thank you” should not be uttered by the bereaved in response to the visitors' condolences and offers of abuloy or financial support, flowers, or prayers. According to superstition, giving thanks means that you are happy about the death of your loved one.
Do not bring home food from the wake.
While it is a common practice for Filipinos to offer take-home food to visitors during celebrations, the same cannot be said for the wake. There is the belief that bringing food home from the wake will bring you bad luck.
Aside from this, it is also practiced to prevent the dead from going hungry in the afterlife.
Practice pagpag.
Pagpag, defined as "to shake off dust or dirt" in English, is perhaps the most common death-related pamahiin. Pagpag is the practice of taking the time to go somewhere else after visiting a wake instead of directly going home. It is done as a way to confuse the spirits and to avoid having them follow you home. Nowadays, convenience stores, 24-hour coffee shops, and fast-food restaurants are the most common places where people go as a practice of pagpag.
Young children must be passed back and forth over the raised casket before it is buried.
The practice of passing young children over the raised casket is done to prevent the dead from visiting them. In addition, it is also done to bury with the dead any form of sickness that could take hold of the kids.
Do not let tears fall on the casket’s glass.
During the burial, the immediate family is encouraged to bring a handkerchief to wipe their tears off. This practice stems from the belief that having tears fall on the casket's glass will result in the soul of the dead having trouble traveling to the afterlife. Supposedly, each tear that falls off the casket's glass is an added burden on the shoulder of the dead.
Place a broken rosary on the hands of the dead.
Catholic Filipinos are the ones who often practice this superstitious belief. Placing a broken rosary on the hands of the dead is thought to prevent death from taking away another family member.
Whether you believe in these superstitions or not, it is safe to say that there is nothing wrong with allowing others to practice them. At the end of the day, it is all about respecting each other's beliefs, especially since the loss of a loved one can cause heightened emotions.
Sources
Alberts, T. (2021, July 10). Filipino Burial Practices and Customs. Owlcation. https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/Filipino-Burial-Dos-and-Donts
Flower Patch. (2021, January 29). 40 Filipino Superstitions that You Need to Know during Funerals and Wakes | Blog | Flower Patch - Online Flower Delivery Phillippines. Flower Patch - Online Flower Delivery Phillippines. https://flowerpatchdelivery.com/blog/40-filipino-superstitions-funerals-and-wakes/
Galvez, J. (2021, June 23). 30 Superstitions Filipinos Practice During Funerals. Manillenials. http://www.manillenials.com/filipino-superstitions-funerals-pamahiin-sa-patay/
L. (2019, August 5). 10 Superstitious Beliefs About Filipino Funerals. RJ Scribbles. https://scribbles.rarejob.com.ph/archive/10-superstitious-beliefs-filipino-funerals/
Rappler.com. (2019, October 31). List: 6 Filipino pamahiins we just can’t ignore. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/filipinos-common-beliefs-about-death
