Chinese New Year is just around the corner. To ensure that you start your new year on the right foot, here is a list of things that you should and should not do on Chinese New Year. 1. Washing and cutting hair Here are 8 things you should avoid during Chinese New Year: 1. Washing or cutting your hair. Apparently, it’s important to be very careful when it comes to any behavior surrounding hair for By cutting your hair, it can symbolise cutting off your prosperity. In normal cases, that’s already a pretty bad situation. Right before Chinese New Year though? It’s not a sign that bodes well for the rest of your year, so let’s stay away from those hair salons during this time. 6. No negative emotions People should not get their hair cut during the first lunar month, for it indicates the death of their uncle (mother's brother), and of course it is a thing you should never do during the Chinese New Year. Although it sounds absurd, people are glad to abide by this tradition. Karen Yee of San Francisco, says she doesn't cut or wash her hair on New Year's Day. "Hair and luck in Chinese are homonyms," she said. "So if you cut or wash your hair on the day of the Lunar New On the first day of Chinese New Year, you must not wash or cut your hair. In Cantonese, hair is pronounced as faat (髮), which is the same as the word for “getting rich” (發). If you wash your hair, it means that you’re washing your own fortune away for the coming 365 days. SINGAPORE: As the Chinese New Year approached, an online user sparked a lively discussion in a forum on Friday (Jan 17) by asking Singaporeans about superstitions they still believe in during this Avoid washing hair and getting a haircut. Hair must not be washed on Chinese New Year's Day. In Mandarin, hair (发, fa) has the same pronunciation (and indeed is the same character) as fa in facai (发财), which means 'to become wealthy'. Therefore, it is seen as not a good thing to "wash one's fortune away" at the beginning of the New Year. Leave your hair as it is on the first day of the New Year. The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosper. This means washing or cutting it off is 6. Avoid cutting your hair: It is thought that doing so may disrupt one's financial luck during the festive season. People usually clean hair before new year and choose to cut their hair on the second day of the second lunar month, known as "Longtaitou" in Chinese culture. 7. Avoid sweeping and taking out of garbage: Sharp objects in general will cut your stream of wealth and success. This is why 99% of hair salons are closed during the holidays. Hair cutting is taboo and forbidden until Lunar February 2, when all festivities are over. Similarly,how long after chinese new year can i cut my hair? Haircut. It is bad luck to cut anything during the 15 day Chinese New Year period, hence the Chinese tend to go for a haircut before the last day of the Lunar year so that they will not look unkempt, and also because a clean, well maintained appearance matters to usher in a prosperous new year. It is bad luck to cut anything during the 15 day Chinese New Year period, hence the Chinese tend to go for a haircut before the last day of the Lunar year so that they will not look unkempt, and also because a clean, well maintained appearance matters to usher in a prosperous new year. It’s to welcome the new year with a smile and let fortune and happiness continue on. The Spring Festival also involves somber ceremonies to wish for a good harvest. Strict rules and restrictions go without saying. To help you know what customs and rules to follow, here are the top 10 taboos to avoid during the Chinese New Year. 10. The “no cleaning” rule during CNY. In Chinese tradition, cleaning during the new year is believed to sweep away wealth and good fortune. Even taking out the garbage is seen as tossing out prosperity from the home. So, yes – this gives you the perfect excuse to put off housework until after Chinese New Year. The Chinese word for “book” (shū) sounds exactly the same as the word for “lose” – so buying a book right after ringing in the New Year is considered an invitation for bad luck. No cutting hair, fingernails or other things during the first few days. Washing hair on the first day is also not a good idea. Avoid talking about death or ghosts. No gifting of sharp objects, clocks, shoes, pears, umbrellas or other taboo gifts. Hair must not be washed on Chinese New Year’s Day. In Mandarin, hair (发, fa) has the same pronunciation (and indeed is the same character) as fa in facai (发财), which means ‘to become wealthy’. Can we wash hair on first day of Chinese New Year? On the first day of Chinese New Year, you must not wash or cut your hair. In Cantonese Can you wash hair on second day of Chinese New Year? Avoid washing hair and getting a haircut. Hair must not be washed on Chinese New Year’s Day. In Mandarin, hair (发, fa) has the same pronunciation (and indeed is the same character) as fa in facai (发财), which means ‘to become wealthy’. Let’s delve into the intriguing world of Hair Washing Superstitions and explore what to avoid during Chinese New Year to ensure a prosperous start to the lunar new year. As the dawn of Lunar New Year 2025 approaches on Jan. 29, the festive season sets the stage for a 15-day celebration steeped in tradition across China and various Asian
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.