Let me tell you about what I remember about stuff our grandma's and grandpa's use to tell us when we were young. 

Don't sit on the pillow!! they would get mad saying that if I sat on the pillow my bottom will be in pain 

Don't play hide and seek when it's mahgrib (around dusk), the ghost will hide or kidnap you and you'll never be found again. 

If you go into the forest or somewhere that's doesn't have a lot of people you better watch your words and actions because if you don't there will be consequenses. And the consequenses? well they are scary, but that's a story for another time.

Bow when you walk infront of someone older, as a sign of repsect and if I didn't do it my grandparents said my backbone would crumble.

A black butterfly that comes around ramadhan means someone (you can't see) has come to visit. Is this bad or good? I'm not sure myself.

If you hear someone calling your name do not answer and come over when called by the person whom you think is calling you. We're told to do this so we don't answer the 'things' if they call you that is.

Finish the rice, if you don't the rice will cry.

Don't eat the seeds of fruits, the seed will soon grow in you and you'll become a tree.

Don't place the food anywhere near your foot, the food will go bad if you do.

Only eat in one spot, meaning you stay in that spot until you finish eating and if you don't you'll like too many people.


These were told to malay children to secretly keep them under control. These are the few taboos of the Malay culture in Malaysia.