Death and Sweeping the Floor

Filipino people have strong family ties. When a part of the family dies, most of them would even  want to have the coffin with the dead body stay more or less than 1 week in their house where other relatives and friends can visit and either empathize or sympathize.  They call that ‘lamay’. During the lamay, old people believe that the spirit of the dead person is still in the place, dwelling with them. They should let the spirit be there to spent time with the family before the burial and the 40th day. Sweeping the floor is also prohibited inside the house during the lamay to avoid “sweeping” away the spirit.