The word “shoe” in Cantonese (鞋) has the same sound as a sigh. That’s why you’re not suggested to buy new shoes during Chinese New Year, as it means that you’re going to jinx yourself with loads of disappointment and miserable events that will make you sigh in the coming year. So, as pretty as those kicks look, put ’em down (for So the Chinese, particularly the Cantonese, believe that we shouldn’t buy shoes during the entire 15 days of the Chinese New Year. From what I understand, that’s because shoes sound like the word *sigh* in Cantonese but others point out that it’s because the word ‘shoes’ in Cantonese is a homonym for ‘rough’ but I totally don’t Chinese New Year is a auspicious holiday and like many holidays of its kind, there are many traditions associated with welcoming in a brand new calendar year that will determine how your prosperity, wealth, luck, health and happiness will pan out for the next 365 days. We’ve compiled a list of CNY no-nos for you to take note of but do keep in 8. Purchase new shoes. Although it is good to go Chinese New Year shopping for new clothes to look presentable, do not buy shoes during Chinese New Year. This is because the word for shoes in the Chaozhou and Teochew language is hoi, which sounds like hai or a sigh in English. This gives a connotation of a bad feeling towards the year or an “Consider buying new bags, hair accessories, or clothing to signify a fresh start,” he notes. However, he emphasizes that one important item to avoid purchasing during the New Year period is a new pair of shoes. He explains that in Cantonese, the word for shoes sounds similar to the word for sighing, which symbolizes hardship and bad luck. Or you can choose a lucky color and dress yourself up. 13. Don't Buy Shoes. In Cantonese, the pronunciation of "shoes" is similar to the sound of people sighing. So buying shoes during the New Year is considered unlucky, as it may cause people to sigh uncontrollably and encounter various misfortunes. 14. Refrigerator Shouldn't Be Empty. Taboo #7: Do not buy shoes. Interpretation: In Cantonese, the character for “shoes” is pronounced 鞋 (haai4). The sound of haai4 resembles sighing, which correlates with problems and hardships. Cantonese people view it as a curse. Remedy: Buying shoes before the Chinese New Year and wearing new shoes out on New Year’s Day. That’s why it’s not advised that you purchase new shoes during Chinese New Year, as doing so will bring about a lot of disappointment and unhappy circumstances that will cause you to sigh It is believed those who buy new footwear during the 16 days of the Lunar New Year are in for a rough time for the rest of the year. Also, avoid gifting shoes as it is said to bring both the giver Purchase a pair of slippers and wear them on New Year’s Day so that you can “step on them.” Don’t buy the slippers on New Year’s Day, as it’s considered to be bad luck and can bring about evil in your life. Decorate your home with plum blossoms which are a symbol of hope & courage. Taking naps, especially on the first day of the Chinese New Year, represents laziness. In Chinese culture, taking naps on the first day of the new year will affect your luck and career for the rest of the year. 9. Avoid breaking things in your home From shouting auspicious phrases during lo hei and giving out angbaos and even numbers, it’s no surprise that Chinese New Year comes with lots of practices to follow. If you want to be extra careful this year, here are Chinese superstitions and taboos to keep in mind this CNY so you don’t start the year with bad luck. You can buy new shoes starting on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, as that's when good fortune rolls in. Waiting until then guarantees your journey begins on an auspicious note. Conclusion In summary, it's best to wait until the Lantern Festival to sweep after Chinese New Year. Celebrating Chinese New Year with Chinese friends can be great, but, when the cultural gap is large, it can be really easy to give the wrong gift for Chinese New Year. Here, we've summarized 15 things you should not give as a Chinese New Year gift and their negative meanings in Chinese culture. Make sure that you don't give the wrong gift. So when it comes to Chinese New Year, it is advisable not to buy shoes in the first few days – and especially on the first day – as they will only bring a bumpy year ahead. Some of those Chinese New Year taboos will only sustain for first few days of the festival, while others may be kept till the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, or even for a whole month. Hereunder are 16 things you should never do during the Chinese New Year. This year, Chinese New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29. Those who celebrate will be entering the year of the snake. Just like with any holiday, traditions abound for Chinese New Year. Some of Killing should be avoided from the 1st to 15th of the Lunar New Year as blood is considered an ill omen, which will cause misfortunes such as a knife wound, or a bloody disaster. People usually kill chickens, ducks, pigs, and fish before Chinese New Year or on Chinese New Year's Eve. During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? In many parts of China, you’ll hear a constant, nightly barrage of loud bangs during the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year celebration, which is known as the Spring Festival – even though it
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