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Funeral
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In Japan there are certain things one doesn't do because they are thought to cause bad luck. Those thing often are somehow related to death:
- The number four:
The number is pronunced "shi". The word for death is pronounced the same. One shouldn't give presents that consits of four pieces, etc. In some hotels and hospitals the room number four doesn't exist.
- Stick chopsticks into the rice:
Don't stick your chopsicks into your food generally, especially not into the rice. On the funerals it is done with the rice that is put on the altar.
- Give food from chopstick to chopstick:
This is only done with the bones of the dead person on the funeral.
- Sleeping in direction of North:
Don't sleep to the North beacause only the bodies are laid down like that.
- Funeral Car:
If a funeral car passes you should hide your thumb.
- Cut nails at night:
If you cut your nails at night, you will not be with your parents when they die.
- Lie down after eating:
If you lie down immedeately after eating, you will become a cow.
- Whistle in the night:
If you whistle in the night, a snake will come to you.
- Black cat:
There are also some imported superstitions like the black cat that crosses the street in front of you and brings bad luck.
In shrines, temples and souvenir shops, many amulets are sold that are supposed to bring luck, safety or good fortune. There are amulets for money, health, love, success on exams, safety on the streets, etc.
Small pieces of paper (omikuji) that predict your future are also available. These pieces of paper are tied around the branch of a tree after reading, either to make the good fortune come true or to avoid the predicted bad fortune.
omikuji
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