Indonesia’s rich cultural tapestry includes plenty of superstitions, many tied to folklore, animist beliefs, or Islamic influences. Some sound bizarre, others eerily logical. Here’s a breakdown of five common ones and the phrases you’ll hear alongside them.
1. Don’t Whistle at Night – “Jangan bersiul malam-malam, nanti ada yang ikut”
Whistling after dark is a big no. The saying translates to: “Don’t whistle at night, or something will follow you.” The “something” is usually a ghost or malevolent spirit. Some say it attracts them, others claim it mimics the sound to lure you. Either way, bad idea.
2. Cutting Nails After Dark Invites Death – “Potong kuku malam hari, undang malaikat maut”
The phrase means “Cut nails at night, invite the angel of death.” Some versions say it shortens your life. The logic? Poor lighting leads to accidents, infections could follow. Superstition fills the gap where medicine wasn’t historically accessible.
Malaikat maut
/maˈlai̯kat ˈmaut/“Angel of death”
3. Sweeping at Night Sweeps Away Luck – “Menyapu malam hari, rezeki ikut terbuang”
Literal translation: “Sweep at night, prosperity gets thrown away.” The belief is that cleaning after sunset chases off good fortune. Probably stems from a time when sweeping in dim light meant accidentally tossing valuables with the dirt. Now it’s just ingrained habit.
4. Don’t Sit at the Doorstep – “Duduk di ambang pintu, bikin susah jodoh”
Sitting on the doorstep (especially for women) is said to “make marriage difficult” (“bikin susah jodoh”). The doorway is a liminal space - neither inside nor outside - and lingering there supposedly disrupts your romantic fate. More likely, it’s just obstructive and annoys people trying to pass.
- Variation: Some say it invites evil spirits to enter the house.
- Counterpoint: In Java, sitting low at the door shows respect to elders. Context matters.
5. Pointing at the Moon Gets Your Ears Cut – “Tunjuk bulan, telinga dipotong”
A classic scare tactic for kids: “Point at the moon, your ears get cut.” The origin’s murky - some link it to Hindu-Buddhist moon deities, others to Islamic modesty (don’t gesture rudely). Either way, it’s effective at stopping children from being obnoxious during moonlit nights.
Want more? Check out essential Indonesian travel phrases or how to describe people in Indonesian.
