Malaysian superstitions that we will not pass on to our kids

Are you a superstitious person? I am not, but I know that some of the beliefs actually have a true meaning to it, but usually oldies give different reasons to scare people to make them abide by it. At this age, we do not need to scare our kids with this stuff as we are able to reason out with them.

As Malaysian's we would have heard all the Malay , Indian & Chinese superstitions that we may not even be able to tell them apart. Here are a few and also the real reason as to why this superstitions came up:

1) Do not break mirror (some even say glass)
Reason: 7 Years years of bad luck
Truth: If  people break mirror or glass, they can get their hands cut.

2) Dont sit / step on a book
Reason: You will become stupid.
Truth: Its a reading material, so as a form of respect, the least we can do is not to step or sit on it.

3) Dont sit on pillow
Reason: You will get a boil on your bum
Truth: Duh! You put your head on it to sleep, you dont want it smelling of people's bum.

4) "Anak dara takleh nyanyi kat dapur" (Dont sing in the kitchen / while cooking)
Reason: You will get marry to an old man
Truth: If you sing, u might loose concentration in cooking and might add the wrong ingredients or maybe your saliva will drop into the pot.. eeeww

5) Do not open umbrella at home
Reason: Snake might jump out of it (Ha Ha) / Some say the house will be cursed n you will loose some wealth.
Truth: You might poke someone , or if its wet, water will drip inside the house.

6) During Maghrib, Muslims kids are not allowed to play outside
Reason: A lot of ghosts wandering around
Truth: You want the kids to be back early, have their bath and pray on time.

7) Do not walk under the ladder
Bad luck will befall you
Truth: If you walk under the ladder chances are people on top may drop something and fall on you, or even the ladder might fall on you

8) Do not cut fingernails at night (Same with dont cut hair at night / dont sew at night)
You will be cursed
Truth: Those days people used kerosene lamps where the light is dim, so u might cut your fingers... but now kan not like that... terang benderang kat umah...

9) After food, dont let the plate dry... pour some water on it
Reason: Keringla rezeki nanti
Truth: If its dry, difficult to wash la.


There are also marriage superstitions and the worst is pregnancy and confinement superstitions. Although most of them are meant to keep you safe, the reasons they give are terrible. Some of the superstitions have no meaning at all.