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Fermín Dichoso
Anthropos 62. 1967
5. Eating, Bathing, Sleeping
During meals, when someone is told to run an errand or goes out to
meet an unexpected visitor, his plate is turned around three times clockwise
and three times counter-clockwise, so that no harm may befall him on the way,
or so that he may return safely. For the visitor may be a stranger planning to
kill him. While eating, no one is allowed to talk, much less to hum or sing. Such
an act constitutes a grave disrespect for the graces being received. Pots and
plates should not be left completely empty. Something, even if only a few
grains of rice, must be left uneaten. Empty plates indicate misery, hikahos, a
kind of hand-to-mouth existence, like that of chicken. Parents are particularly
careful to leave at least a handfull of rice in rice-containers, to prevent famine
from stalking in the household.
Taking baths on Tuesdays, Fridays and in the evenings is strongly dis
couraged, since it causes loss of blood and chronic anemia to the person involv
ed. Similarly, cutting fingernails on such days and times causes swelling of
fingers.
While sleeping, the head must lie towards the north, never towards the
door, to insure good sleep and to prevent nightmare (bangungot). Besides, the
head of a deceased person lies towards the south and towards the door. The
direction to the north denotes life and that to the south death. If a sick person
holds his hands over his head, this position tends to cause or intensify head
aches and increase his temperature, since blood will circulate and gather more
towards the head.
When a house is remodelled, posts and planks formerly belonging to the
bataldn (kitchen-bathroom-toilet combination) may be used in this part of the
house again or in the living room. But the posts and planks from the living
room should never be transferred to the bataldn. For, whereas the transfer from
the bataldn to the living room signifies improvement of status in life, the oppo
site means impoverishment. Planting the house-posts upside down is liable to
bring adversity in life and hence must be avoided.
6. Death and the After-Life
When a person dies, the whole town or village is notified and mourns
for him. While the body lies in state in the house, all the mirrors must be
covered with sheets of white cloth. For, if the coffin is reflected on an undraped
mirror, it will be seen there again several times long after the burial, thus
causing fear and panic on all who see it or hear about it. In such a case, the
mirror, even if it is a cherished heirloom, must be broken and disposed of
immediately.
Mourners must not let their tears fall on the deceased lest he be not
admitted to his eternal rest. Tears are believed to leave indelible stains on the
body and soul, thus preventing the latter from entering heaven.