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Folk belief holds that encountering auspicious events in the first days of the new year ensures a prosperous and successful year ahead. Conversely, encountering unfortunate events signifies a troublesome year. Pregnant women, often associated with yin energy in folk beliefs, are advised to observe the following taboos.
1. Avoiding Tet Visits
Similar to house visits, in folk belief, pregnant women should refrain from visiting others during Tet to avoid bringing bad luck to the family. Nowadays, many people disregard this superstition, allowing expectant mothers to comfortably visit relatives and friends during the holiday.
To ensure the health of both the mother and the baby, pregnant women should also minimize traveling during Tet.
2. Avoiding House Cleansing Rituals
In ancient belief, the first person to visit and offer Tet greetings after New Year's Eve is considered the house opener. This person's visit could influence the family's fortune for the entire year. Hence, if the house opener is successful and healthy, the family will likely prosper and encounter much luck throughout the year.
However, pregnant women are regarded as bearing negative energy, with the belief in 'giving birth to evil, nurturing good,' so they should avoid being the house opener. According to many, a pregnant woman opening the house may bring unfortunate events to the household.
3. Avoid sweeping the house.
Not only for pregnant women but also for many others, sweeping the house is considered taboo. An old saying goes, 'Sweep out on the first day, sweep in on the third.' According to Vietnamese tradition, if the homeowner sweeps trash out of the house on the first day of the lunar New Year, it means sweeping away wealth and fortune from the house.
Even for families not adhering to this superstition, pregnant women should refrain from sweeping the house. It requires them to stand up and sit down frequently, and sometimes even bend down to reach hidden corners, which could negatively affect the fetus in the womb.
4. Avoid standing in the middle of the doorway.
In many places, there's a belief that a pregnant woman standing in the doorway will block fortune and luck from entering the family. The reality is, due to weight gain during pregnancy, standing in the doorway area can feel cramped and increase the likelihood of collisions as people move around.
Therefore, on Tet days, pregnant women should avoid standing in front of doorways, whether visiting others' homes or staying in their own. They should sit in comfortable positions for the well-being of the fetus.
5. Avoid raising voices and arguing.
Many believe that on the first day of the year, people should converse gently and behave harmoniously to ensure a peaceful and prosperous new year. According to ancient beliefs, arguing or raising voices on the first day of the new year will bring misfortune for the whole year. This is why even if women feel annoyed or upset, they should refrain from being harsh and instead engage in gentle conversations with family members.
From a scientific perspective, pregnant women experiencing frequent sadness, tension, or anger can negatively impact the fetus. At such times, dopamine and cortisol levels increase, subjecting the fetus to adverse effects.
Above are the things pregnant women should avoid on Tet, which you need to be aware of. Keep them in mind for reference. Don't forget to follow Mytour for quick updates on the most useful information.
