Text: Sukob: If two siblings (or sometimes even first cousins) marry within the same year, it is believed that one or both marriages will be unlucky, resulting in financial struggles, sickness, or death.

If a child gets married in the same year that a parent or grandparent dies, it is also considered bad luck, as it is believed to bring misfortune to the family.

Context:
“It’s a really well-known superstition in the Philippines. Basically, if two siblings (or even first cousins) get married in the same year, it’s believed that their marriages will be unlucky. People say it could lead to financial struggles, sickness, or even death. There’s also another version of sukob that says if someone gets married in the same year that a parent or grandparent dies, it brings bad luck to the whole family.

I first heard about sukob from my family when I was younger. I remember my aunt was supposed to get married, but she had to wait until the next year because my other aunt had already planned her wedding. My grandparents were really strict about it and didn’t want to risk bad luck. It was one of those things that everyone just followed, even if they weren’t superstitious.

Even now, some people still take sukob seriously. I know some families who will purposely delay a wedding just to avoid it. Even me and my husband were not able to get a Christmas wedding because my husband’s oldest sister had their wedding scheduled earlier that year. We had to wait for January so our weddings would not fall on the same year.”

Analysis: Sukob is a powerful example of folk belief in the Philippines, reflecting deep cultural values surrounding family, fate, and the supernatural. At its core, this superstition highlights the importance of harmony and balance within the family unit, a key aspect of Filipino culture. The idea that two weddings in the same year could bring misfortune suggests that major life events must be carefully spaced to maintain order and avoid upsetting spiritual forces. Similarly, the belief that a marriage following a death brings bad luck reflects a respect for mourning periods, reinforcing the idea that certain events should not overlap out of reverence for both the living and the dead.

From a folkloric perspective, sukob functions as a cautionary tale that influences real-life decisions, much like other folk beliefs meant to guide behavior. It operates as a form of social control, ensuring that traditions are followed and family members prioritize collective well-being over individual desires. Even though some people no longer believe in sukob, many still follow it out of cultural respect or fear of tempting fate. This demonstrates how folklore persists and adapts, continuing to shape traditions and beliefs even when its original supernatural explanation may no longer hold the same weight.