Filipinos have a rich history and culture. We have a very unique set of beliefs, superstitions and traditions especially in funerals and burials.

There are numerous superstitious beliefs that Filipino families observe when it comes to funerals.  Some of these beliefs are logical, while others are droll and unexplainable. These beliefs are passed on from generation to generation and are still continuously adopted, primarily because Filipinos think that there is nothing to lose anyway if they will follow these beliefs.

In this day and age of information and digitalization, many of us, both young and old, have already forgotten these unique traditions that make our funerals and burials meaningful and reflect our Filipino heritage. To refresh our memory and introduce these traditional beliefs to the younger generation, here are some funeral and burial superstitions that are still being observed today:

1. We are not allowed to take a bath during the wake. It is said to bring bad luck to the family.

2. No one is allowed to sweep the floor during the wake, because it will also bring bad luck.

3. Do not take home any food served from the wake or else the spirit of the dead will follow you home.

4. Whisper your wishes to the dead, because his/her spirit will carry the wishes to heaven - which means your wishes will easily come true.

5. Cover all the mirrors with cloth during the wake to avoid seeing the spirit of the dead in the mirror.

6. Throw coins in front of the funeral car during the funeral procession. It serves as the fare of the dead going to the afterlife.

7. After attending the wake/funeral, do not go straight home. It is believed that the spirit of the dead follows you after your visit. Stopping by another location will make you lose them. This practice is commonly referred to as Pagpag (i.e. shake off).

8. Wearing red clothes is forbidden during funerals because they believe that Red symbolizes joy and celebration.

9. Avoid combing your hair inside the house where the deceased is laid. It is said to bring bad luck.

10. Avoid tears from falling on the casket or else the spirit of the dead will have a difficult time transitioning to the afterlife.

11. If the cause of death is murder, place sisiw on the coffin. It symbolizes justice.

12. It is forbidden to eat malunggay during the wake. In the Ilocos region, they said that eating malunggay during a wake is prohibited because of the way it is prepared - by stripping the leaves one by one. It might mean that your family members will also die one after the other.

13. Immediately change clothes upon going home coming from a wake. In the Visayas, the belief is that you must immediately take off the clothes you wore to a wake and not roam around the house wearing the same clothes to avoid the spirit and the essence of the dead from clinging on to you.

14. In some Northern provinces, they throw a “palayok” on a pile of sand or soft soil. They believe that if the palayok doesn’t break, it means that there will be another family member who will die soon.

15. When carrying the casket out of the house, avoid bumping it anywhere. This practice is observed so that no one in the family dies next.

(Source: https://www.manillenials.com/filipino-superstitions-funerals-pamahiin-sa-patay/ )

These superstitions are not mandatory. We all have intellect and free will to choose whether to believe them and follow or ignore them. We hope that these superstitions and beliefs stand the test of time and are not forgotten as they give our funerals a unique identity that is genuinely Filipino.

Got some feedback on this article? Email us at spgvision@stpeter.com.ph and watch out for more informative and eye-opening expositions on matters related to DeathCare in the next DeathCare 101.