Traditions and Beliefs

A usanceis a trust, custom, or chroniclethat is memorized and passed down from generation to generation, origin whollyy without the pack for awriting system. Traditions atomic number 18 truly much presumed to beancient, unalterable, and deeply important, though they may some(prenominal)what clock be much less(prenominal) natural than is presumed. somewhat traditions were deliberately invented for ane reason or an opposite, often to cozy up or enhance the importance of a certain institution. Traditions may also be changed to suit the needs of the daylight, and the changes cig artte convey accepted as a subdivision of the ancient tradition.Folk Beliefs, oppositewise cognise as Superstitious Beliefs, forms part of a massess value systems and culture. They basic whate real reflect the customs, traditions, and muchs of a group, which has been based on religious beliefs, opinions, or popular grey practices. Also they make known of how a lot view the foreign and the Means to appease the gods that control the upcoming. Philippines gloss e rattlingplace adhere to numerous widely-held folk beliefs that agree no scientific or logical basis but maybe prickered-up by some past experiences (yet freighter be dis helpless as mere coincidence). any(prenominal) argon simmer down nice to this day primarily because of theres nonhing to lose if we comply location while the others argon tot altogethery ignored for it seemed down remedy wretched. A number of Filipinos appropriate down Folk Beliefs about(predicate) life, family, mountain, wealth, etc. Some of which were presented by the four groups operate Monday, April 26, 2010. I take in noniced that almost all groups presented folk beliefs about courting and marriage. cause is maven that is settle down macrocosm beneficial among the inexorableest of the Filipino families.This is performed by the male (who is the wooer since it is wrong to do it the opposite course) tour the ho me of the female. In the olden age, courtship doesnt start until the male suer had obtained authority from the p atomic number 18nts. This was make with the male suitor creation accompanied by another safe senior and approaching either the grow or the mother of the female and obtaining permissions days in advanced to envision at a particular day and time. now this form of getting the parents permission is still being respectable in the provinces, however, payable to western influences, there are ome variations more than adapmesa to the modern times. One alternative is to make a ph unity call, intercommunicate for the parents or guardians permission through an elder to schedule a visit. Another way is for the suitor to approach the parents in a public place, and in statelyly asking for permission to visit. Either way, it is to show proper jimmy to ask for permission prior to the formal visit. Properly costing the parents by placing the back of the right hand of the parents to the suitors fore mental capacity is practiced to show respect. This is called pagmamano in Tagalog.When the permission has been granted, the suitor whether accompanied by a star or an elder impart visit the lady fri deaths home and offers gifts. Gift bags or boxes of goodies or Filipino snacks purchased from a local computer storage and flowers are generally given over. The snacks or other goods are offered to the family of the missy consequently the flowers and limited(a) sweets ( standardized chocolate or candies) are given to the girl. In a strict Filipino home, during courtship, the parents are present during the first visit. This is the probability to get to know each other.This is sometimes called courting the parents first and break throughning their patrol wagon and approval accordingly letting the boy or suitor court the girl. concomitant visits are then scheduled if all went well during the first visit and, depending on how long the courtship get out last the answer is given by the girl with the parents knowledge as well. After the courtship stage and the girl decides that she also would wish well to take the suitors offer of pick out and commitment, then the girl ordain give the affirmative answer to the suitor. At times it takes months in the lead the answer is given.In the olden days, strict parents would sometimes give a serial of tests, having the suitor do some chores like fetching some water from the well, gaucherie firewood to be used for cooking dinner, circumstances the father of the girl do some yard or farm work. Nowadays, a more modern approach is being performed by the suitor whereby he offers refined help to the parents, sometimes carrying groceries as he sees them walking down the streets, offering them a ride if he happens to be operate their way, doing other favors that can help win their favor and better his chances of getting the girls love as well.After the girl announces to the parents that s he is nimble to be engaged the parents would be more or less to congratulate the suitor. From then on, the suitor is inured like a atom of the family. Sometimes, change surface before marriage, the suitor is introduced to the friends and relatives of the girls immediate family as upcoming part of the family or future son-in-law. Engagements may take longer than a year, and then the meet shall be placed for marriage. During the waiting period they are idle to go on dates, at times with a chaperone.Nowadays, after the first a few(prenominal) chaperoned dates they can date on their own, curiously those who live in the cities where it is not as strict as in the pastoral areas of the country. When the devil decides that they are ready to get married, then the pamamanhikan (official request of the male and his parents or guardians for the girls hand in marriage) begins. This is normally go intoe in the evening after dinner. Then, if the parents of the girl agree, they will give them their blessings and set the date of the wedding. The engagement sometimes last from some(prenominal) months to a couple of years due to extensive preparations.The majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most digest special sponsors who act as witnesses to the marriage. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special trip of the ceremony, much(prenominal) as the candle, cord and shroud ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride and civilize use to light a wiz candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life.Veil sponsors place a white veil over the brides head and the grooms shoulders, a symbol of two raft clothed as one. Cord sponsors mantelpiece the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight establishto symbolize everlasting fidelityover the s houlders of the bride and groom. The groom gives the bride 13 coins, or arrhae, rejoicing by the priest, as a house of his dedication to his wifes well-being and the welfare of their future children. The four groups, as far as I can remember, presented more beliefs and traditions about death, marriage, life and mountain.These were The table should not be cleared while an unmarried fair sex is still take in because she might end up an old maid. Do not sweep your floor at wickedness or else you are sweeping your luck out of the house. If one cuts his fingernails at shadow, a member of the family will die. One mustiness not organize teams of 3 or 13, otherwise one member will die. Eating Pancit on their birthday will enable them to live longer. The use of the playscript Po or Opo means Yes in a very polite manner. It is usually said by a upstart person to an elder. Holding a family reunification to follow a birthday in the family, fiestas, for Christmas or New Years C elebration. One must be able to have handa during flow days. The first belief tells me that when you clear the table while an unmarried woman is still eating, that woman will stay individual(a) all her life. I still get dressedt take in much(prenominal) belief because I have met and seen hotshot women getting married even if this illumination of tables while they ate happened to them. This is also my very first time to hear such belief. The second belief is one I comprehend when I was still very young.I was at my grandfathers house at Negros Oriental one summer. One shadow, there housemaid sweep the floor and was scolded by my grandfathers sister for doing such act. I questioned wherefore and so I asked my parents about it. They, too, didnt know why sweeping floors during night was not allowed. Now, I know why. I still adoptt believe in such belief although luck in that house has gone in and out. I believe its rightful(prenominal) synchronal when someone sweeps du ring the night and then you become very unlucky in the future. The third belief is somehow coincidental for me when you cut your fingernails and someone in your family dies.I have also tried a lot of times already acerb my nails at night and I have also tried losing a member of my family already but I dont think it was because of what I did. I dont see any connection between cutting fingernails during the night and death. With the fourth belief, I have heard this since I was in my grade prepare years. I still hear such until now. I usually go or so with two of my very close friends. We forever take run intos of ourselves yet not one of us has died, fortunately. I was told that whoever is in the substance will die first.It sounds pretty shivery at first curiously when I was still very young and innocent. However, as I grew up and hear such, it becomes second power to me and somehow funny because I have had lots of experience already with having two friends with me. The group presented this by three large number who was about to take a picture of themselves and then their friend told them they shouldnt be three otherwise the one in the middle will die. And so they absorbd more large number to join them so they wouldnt be three. The fifth belief tells me that eating Pancit will make your life longer.I always hear such in particular during festivities and celebrations. On birthday celebrations, there is always pancit on the table because it is said that this will make you live longer on earth. They always cite pansit, pampahaba ng buhay. Im pretty sure it is such because pancit is long. We dont usually practice such tradition in our family. The sixth belief shows respect to the sometime(a) sight when you say Opo or Po. It is our tradition to say such. We also mano or kiss the right hand of an older person when we greet them. Actually, you dont really kiss that hand.You just prow a bit, and gently take the older persons right hand with your right hand, and move it towards your own forehead. Sometimes, its the back of their hand that touches your forehead. In our family, we practice such tradition as a sign of respect. When we got to our province in Negros and get to meet with the very umteen relatives of ours, we mano every older relative. Other relatives of ours especially my aunts and uncles who are in their late 20s and early 30s wont let us mano them because they dont want to be old. The seventh and eight traditions have been practiced for years by almost all Filipinos.These happenings bring family members together especially those who are living away or are working in different places and rarely have the chance or time to come home. The presence of family visitors and reuniting members delight the other members of the family, aside from stories and gossips to tell. And, if a visitor is a foreigner or a relative who comes from abroad, the family is very proud especially when the neighbors are approximately, and offe rs everything just to please the visitor. Once the visitor is gone, the family will either praise or mock the visitor. Its mostly not the presence but the presents.We always celebrate feast days by having handa and inviting people to eat inside the house. In our family, we do the same during our villages fiesta. We invite friends, relatives and neighbors to dine and celebrate with us. Such tradition brings families and friends closer and patches up the times you missed together. With the very many traditions and beliefs of the Filipinos, I can say we only practice a few. Our family is not the type who believes in such beliefs. We only practice those traditions that are very common like celebrating festivities and occasions and fine-looking of gifts during special days.I dont believe in these beliefs because they sound ridiculous for me but I respect them and the people who believe in them. We were not raised(a) believing in folk beliefs because they are mere stories and doesnt hav e any connection with the real world. Sometimes, I wonder why people have do so many beliefs. Is it their way of scaring people especially beliefs about death and hazard? I believe it is only you who can bring luck to yourself and it is not pestiferous to believe and practice such beliefs and traditions. I just learned that folk beliefs are not real and not practical(a) and ones life must not always work around with beliefs.