SINGAPORE - Whenever Christina Tang is overseas and returns to her hotel room, she
always knocks on the door before entering even if she is the only occupant.
The 25-year-old Singaporean
marketing executive said knocking on the door is meant to seek permission from
the "good brothers" - spirits that might have taken over her room
while she was away - for her to stay over for the night.
"It's just like visiting a
friend. You would definitely not barge in without the courtesy of a doorbell or
a knock on the door, right? To me, it's just respect."
Singapore might be one of Asia's
wealthiest and most well-educated societies, but quirky superstitions are part
of daily life in the city-state.
Superstition comes to the fore
during the month-long Hungry Ghost Festival, which began on Friday.
Chinese superstition holds that
the gates of hell are opened for spirits to wander across the mortal realm
before they return to the underworld.
During the month, property sales
fall because it is considered inauspicious to make major purchases, and people
refrain from staying out too late to avoid otherworldly encounters.
Noisy streetside shows called
"getai" featuring professional singers are staged to entertain the
visiting spirits - but don't sit on the empty front seats because they're
reserved for the invisible guests.
Traffic jams are typically caused
not only by crumpled cars obstructing traffic but also by drivers slowing down
to take note of the license plate numbers so that they can bet on them in the
hugely popular four-digit lottery.
Having bird droppings land on
your head is also seen as a good omen for gamblers because it's so rare for one
to be hit in the concrete jungle.
A tree in a western suburb has
attracted a following due to the likeness of a monkey on its bark, which
believers say resembles that of a deity from Chinese mythology.
The "Monkey Tree" drew
so much attention at one point that authorities had to explain to a local
newspaper that the visage was a" natural" response by the tree to
various "minor accidents over the years."
AFP
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com
No comments:
Post a Comment