Do Not Sit on Your Pillow
Children tend to have a creative imagination. I used to ride on my pillows, pretending them to be horses. But the older generations do not see it that way. My mum used to say that if I sit on my pillows, I will get pimples on my butt. I guess, they just want me to go to sleep, rather than play with my pillows.
Do Not Trim Your Nails at Night
Kids are prohibited from cutting their nails at night or they will have a short life. I think the older generations implemented this myth due to a safety issue. In the olden times when electricity is not widely available yet, they used gas lamps. Due to the dim nature of lighting produced by these gas lamps, they were afraid that the kids might accidentally clip their own flesh in the process of trimming their nails.
Do Not Whistle in the House
Are snakes attracted to a whistling sound? I never knew that. It is said that kids are not allowed to whistle in the house or snakes will come in. I relly don't understand this one.
Do Not Stick out Your Tongue
Or it will be cut. Like who's going to cut a kid's tongue? But I guess, it is a prevention against inappropriate behavior as sticking out one's tongue is considerd to be rude.
Do Not Point to a Rainbow
The older generation said that if you point to a rainbow, your fingers will be lost. I have no idea how they derived at such conclusion.
Do Not Eat in the Dark
It is not advisable to eat in the dark because you can't see what you're putting into your mouth. If you're eating fish, there is a chance that you may swallow its bones and cause the kids to choke. So they said that if you're eating in the dark, you're eating with the devil.
Do Not Play Outside after Dark
Being children, they love to play at all hours of the day. Sometimes these kids forget to come home until it's already late. In order to make sure that children do not play outside the house beyond dusk, they said that if they do, they will be hidden by ghosts.
Do Not Bite Your Clothes
In an attempt to stop kids from biting their shirts or clothes, they told them that if they bit their clothes, their teeth will turn rotten.
Do Not Talk in the Toilet
Talking in the toilet is considered rude by the older generations. I don't know why it should be. Sometimes I forget something and I need to shout for someone to get it for me, if they could hear me, that is. But they do not see it the same way I do. So they said that if we talk in the toilet, we will get sore eyes.
Do Not Lift Up Your Legs Behind You When You Are Lying on Your Tummy
Or your mum will die. I don't see the logic to this. If you were in this position, there is a chance that you might trip someone, so it is not advisable to remain in that position. That person might very well be your mother!
The younger Malay generations do not abide by these rules nor do they enforce them unto their children. It is much better to reason out with them if their behavior is unacceptable. Soon, these myths will be long gone and forgotten. It would be great to document some here.
