WEEK 3

Discuss the taboos/restrictions in various races in Malaysia.

Group 4: Nur Amylea Syazlina bt Ismail Jong Tchiun Ee Amirah Athirah bt Mohd Alias

TABOOS/RESTRICTIONS
A restriction (pantang larang) is a prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behaviour will cause bad things to happen to the doer. A cultural or religious custom that does not allow people to do, use or talk about a particular thing as people find it offensive or embarrassing (Oxford Dictionary). Restrictions are handed down orally from generation to generation.

IMPORTANCE OF RESTRICTIONS
To discipline the community especially youngsters so that they will be well behaved. Lead to the adoption of good values that can be practiced in life. As a guidance in our life.

EXAMPLES OF RESTRICTIONS

Malays

Do not sit on the pillow or else you will get sores on your backside.

Do not sing in the kitchen, or else you will marry an old man.

Nails should not be cut at night because it is believed that the persons life will be shortened.

Women are not allowed to use a broken mirror because she could have a pale face during the wedding.

A 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.

The bride is not allowed to attend any funeral three months before or after the wedding. 2. White, navy, black and green decorations are not allowed to be used for a wedding ceremony. 3. Even numbers are always used for wedding ceremony.
1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Cannot sweep the floor on the first day of the celebration- sweep away the fortune Cannot break any plate and bowl- bad luck Cannot say improper words that will bring bad luck throughout the whole year Cannot wear black clothes during the celebration- bad luck

Cannot eat rabbit Cannot eat dog Cannot eat roaster Cannot eat crab Cannot eat foods that considered as coldwatermelon Cannot take scissors or nail cutter Cannot attend wedding ceremony

1. Cannot eat using a pot - will become poor 2. Do not place a mirror directly facing your bed. - bring third party into the marriage of the sleeping occupants of the bed.

3. Avoid whistling at night. - attract the attention of the wandering spirits who then follow you home.

4. Never leave the laundry hung during the midnight ( nocturnal hours) - the wandering spirits will attrach to the clothing and take over the personality of the person when he/ she wears them.
5. Never pee anywhere you like - dangerous- could inadvertently be peeing on some wondering spiritmake them angry- suffer bad luck.

6. Cannot cut your nail after sunset - attract evil spirits, the remaining need to be thrown in a hidden place
7. Cannot put dogs tears into our eyes - dog has the ability to see spirit, if a dog barks continuously means that death will happen soon. - if we put the dogs tear into our eyes, we can see the spiritual world but will face death (punishment)

8. When a bird poos on your head, means you are about to come into some speculative money.
9. Never use broom to sweep outwards at the front of the shop. - always sweep inwards from the main door to the back of the shop - pull in the luck- good enters and bad luck leaves.

Indian

1. Do not proceed, if a cat across your way. If a cat crosses the path, wait for a while and then move ahead as a cat cutting ones path is bad omen.

2. Never call one back when the person is leaving the house. As if you are calling the bad spirit to come over your house. 3. Do not let the guest of your house do 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 they believe that work should probably do by the host not the guest.

4. 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. 5. If a cat is heard crying, it is a bad omen. 6. When there is a death, the picture of the 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

References
http://atynnmee.blogspot.com/2012/10/oldmalaysian-supertitious-and-taboos.html http://bmk12010.blogspot.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAYI1lSIKew