06 July 2005

Baby Pamahiin

A   couple of days back, We had a discussion with fellow Berks in Blogkadahan about Pamahiin (superstitions - is my translation right?) in having a new baby around. Here are some of these interesting beliefs:

* The child cannot move house or travel long distances if he's not yet baptized
* The umbilical cords of siblings may be tied together and hung by the window so that they will remain clost to one another
* Display the christening gown of the child during the reception after baptism. Place it where guests will see it. The child will become friendly and sociable.
* Don't let the child kiss a doll or a younger kid. The child will take some time before it will learn to talk. Or in the case of kissing a younger kid, this "kissee" will even be able to learn to talk faster than the "kisser".
* When the child is able to eat solid food, let it munch on cooked chicken's behind so it will be able to master the art of speech faster.
* Use a book as the baby's first pillow, so the child will become intelligent.
* On the child's first birthday, gather things around him. Whatever he will like to play with will be his life's passion.
* Also on their first birthday, ask somebody who you would like their traits to be imitated by your child to be the first one to cut his hair. Usually this bit of hair
is also inserteed in a book to make the child intelligent.
* When a child sucks his toes, he's asking for a sibling.
* Cut the child's eyelashes to make it grow long.

It's amusing how our culture has become rich with beliefs in ensuring your child is protected and happy. And I do hope Jo-Lo will be too. Some of the above things will be fun to do.

Thanks to Mec and Ruth for sharing!

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:45 pm

    Too bad my parents knew nothing about these practices when I first made my appearance in this world. I could have been the healthiest and most gifted baby on earth.

    But I will pass them along to the next generation. Reminds me in a way of the stories from Lola Basiang, which I always relished growing up.

    On second thought, I believe I came at a time when my parents were beginning to absorb everything from Dr. Spock. They forgot all that advice from the hilots. Nice reading, anyway, which we can remind pediatricians to add to their armamentarium next time.

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  2. In my travels of the Philippines, it seems that the culture as a whole is very superstitious compared to other places. I really enjoyed learning about them usually by doing something wrong such as clearing a table while people are still eating or driving across a bridge at night without honking. Thanks for informing me on the ones about babies.

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  3. my mom forced my sister to do some of these things to my pamangkins. and to avoid arguement well she cooperated. :)

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  4. Hi, i just dropped by and visited your site. You have a very cute baby.and good luck with the new family.

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  5. Hello Raymond! Your parents must belong to the new generation. Glad to share these local beliefs with you!

    Hello Mr. Abbey! Ah, I'm sure the ones who were left eating on the table threw nasty glances at you, as they might never get married! :-) Our land is chock full of mysticism; sometimes it's ok to follow beliefs as long as it does not inhibit us from doing what are are supposed to do.

    Hi Amie! Yup, we're also cooperating with my biyenan about these things :-)

    Thanks Anton!

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  6. may idadagdag ako sa pamahiin para sa baby sir nick. ummm...ahhh...bawal batiin yung baby pagnananalo sa sugal.

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  7. More like screamed in horror. Lucky I didn't drop the dishes or I probably would have been cursed for life.

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  8. Chu, itatago ko si Jo-Lo sa yo hahaha!

    Hello Mr. Abbey! That's hilarious! I just imagined what happened while reading your comment.

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  9. i have superstition i dont quite understand.... they called it "bahay-bata" where the baby is actually wrapped with inside the womb, is burried somewhere the backyard or around your house... i really didnt quite get o absent lang ako nung ipaliwanag to sa kin...
    anyway about the eyelashes? yup, it will grew longer once cut... bagay lang to i you have a baby girl. another superstition is to cut you baby's hair para kumapal ang buhok, also it is said that the baby's first hair contains bacteria so cutting it will make the baby more healthy and strong.

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  10. Hello G. For the bahay bata, what my wife said was that I should get it and we'll keep it but only as a remembrance and for luck. Imagine me going to the operating room to retrieve that memento! hahaha.

    Jo-Lo's pedia said the hair on a newborn is not its permanent hair, and will be replaced eventually with a new set when he's over a year old.

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  11. well i'm flattered. my sister asked me to cut my inaanak's hair when she turned one. i still have that lock of hair.

    :) hi jo-lo.

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  12. kyut naman poh ng entry... some of it i know but not all.. hgindi naman kasi ganun kapamahiin ang family namin.. kyut ng baby nyo po .. congrats ulit!!!

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  13. Hi Jessie! Actually ako rin! I was asked to be the first to cut the hair of my inaanak. :-)

    Thanks Airwind! Pamilya namin at ni misis, maraming pamahiin, galing kasi ng prubinsya. Pero it has been fun so far.

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  14. isa sa pinakasikat na pamahiin na alam ko- lawayan ang bata para di mausog o ma-bati. Pano kaya kung bad breath o di nagtu-tutbras yung lalaway, eh di na-trasfer pa yung bacteria sa bata, hehehe. Naalala ko ito kasi maraming lumalaway sa akin nung bata pa ko pag umuuwi kaming probins.

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  15. hi watson, this list is really weird!!! i've heard of some but most are new to me. i don't think my mom did those things.. la lang. if i have my baby, i'd be a bit scared to some of those stuff to my kid

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  16. Uy Tanggers bagong photo yan ah. Cool na cool. Ganun rin sa amin, yung lalawayan ka para pwera usog. Pag andun ka na, parang ok lang. Pero when you think about it, wierd.

    Hi Dessagirl! Mapamahiin kasi pamilya namin, pero ok lang. At least something Filipino to pass on.

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  17. lotsa stuff here I've never even heard of. there are some chinese superstitions too. A sample: for a couple trying to conceive, they must hang two chinese lanterns near the headboard. Getting a baby to touch the lamps means that the baby concieved in the bed will follow the gender of the baby who touched the lamps.

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  18. Anonymous4:30 am

    Hi! I chanced upon your blog when I was googling about Happy Meal.

    What a coincidence, I recently made a post regarding superstitions that I've encountered in my life. I've read your Baby Pamahiin and I could relate to many of them. But some, I've only heard of now. It's always nice to learn something new.

    Let me share a few that I know:
    1. Say the words, "Pwera Usog" whenever you greet an infant to avoid giving the baby tummy aches.
    2. Put a piece of thread (from the baby's clothes) on the baby's forehead to remove hiccups.
    3. Mothers often put small red pouches on their babies' clothes to avoid getting "usog" which refers to experiencing piercing tummy aches.

    I grew up hearing all kinds of superstitions. Many of them I've learned from my family and friends. I realized that although some may not sound logical, it wouldn't hurt to try it. Besides, you can never be too sure if some hold a little truth in them.

    Rach

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