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KUALA LUMPUR: Many are familiar with the traditional taboos of Chinese New Year, such as not sweeping the house on the first day and not wearing black or white clothes during the celebration. The Date of Chinese New Year is Fixed: New Year’s on January 1st, right? Not so fast. Chinese New Year is actually kind of a moving target, thanks to the lunar calendar. It can fall anywhere between late January and late February. Chinese New Year is Only Celebrated in China: Sure, it’s big in China, but the party doesn’t stop at the Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, with 2025 being called the 'Year of the Snake'. At the beginning of the lunar year, things that happen during the Spring Festival are believed to Chinese New Year is a celebration filled with metaphors and superstitions aimed at ushering in as much good luck as possible. That begins at the dinner table for many Chinese families. The most common food that you should not eat on Chinese New Year is chicken as it is considered to be of bad luck since the birds scratch backwards. Giving shoes to someone as a present in the new year signifies bad luck. As the pinyin for shoes (鞋, xié) and evil (邪, xié) sounds similar, it is believed that if you give someone shoes, your relationship with the person will eventually end. 5. Do not eat porridge or congee Taking medicine on the first day of the lunar new year means you will get ill, and it will probably last the whole year. New Year’s Breakfast The first thing you eat should be sweet; it’s believed that by doing so, you will receive good news. Don’t eat porridge (or oatmeal) on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Porridge is traditionally There are many Chinese New Year traditions about dos and don'ts. Find out the top 18 things you should not do. Some are taboos on the first day of the Chinese New Year and some are superstitions for the whole New Year Festival season (from the 1st to 15th of the Lunar New Year). 1. Avoid taking medicine. People don't eat porridge during Chinese New Year because they don't want to start off the year "poor". Meat is not eaten out of respect for Buddhist gods, as all gods are believed to be out For the borrower, try to pay back your debts by New Year’s Eve, so that everyone can celebrate Chinese New Year without worries. 4. Consume porridge. Porridge is deemed as food for the poor and hence you should not eat porridge on the first day of Chinese New Year as it is seen as starting off the year poorly. No eating porridge. In old times, only poor families would eat porridge, so in order to gather wealth in the coming year, do not eat porridge. Do not urge someone to get out of bed. If you are urged out of bed on the first morning, it means that you will be rushed the whole year. Do not give New Year’s greetings to someone still in the bed In addition, people from the Guangdong province will typically eat a vegetarian meal or have a vegetarian dish on the table on New Year’s Day morning. This is a sign of respect to ancestors and it is a taboo to take a life on Chinese New Year. Remedy: Don’t eat congee on the lunar new year. Sweeping dirt away symbolizes you sweeping wealth away. If you’ve done this during Chinese New Year, you’ll realize that money-making opportunities rarely, if any, come your way for the entire year #justsaying. Do not owe anyone money All debts should be repaid before CNY. If not, it is widely believed that you’ll owe people money for the 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 Check special opening hours for the Lunar New Year. Law Fu Kee 50 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, +852 2850 6756 Open Monday–Saturday, 8:30–18:00 Check special opening hours for the Lunar New Year. Tong Shui Hung 30 Man Wui Street, Jordan, Kowloon, +852 2771 4628 Open Wednesday–Monday, 17:00-1:30 Hours may differ for the Lunar New Year Lucky foods to eat for Chinese New Year. Don’t eat congee for breakfast. Even though congee is a popular breakfast food for many Hongkongers, it is regarded as a sign of poverty as, in the past Congee’s association with thriftiness and poverty makes it an inauspicious food to eat during Chinese new year celebrations. -- Photo: Shutterstock via SCMP 1. 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 Chinese People regard their right practice during Chinese New Year as an omen of luck for the coming year. Not only observing the festival by adhering to ancient rules, they would also try to avoid violating various taboos. Some of those Chinese New Year taboos will only sustain for first few days of the festival, while others may be kept till So, in a symbolic gesture you cannot eat porridge if you want to gather wealth in the coming year. If you have a late sleeper in your home, then do not urge that person, or anyone, to get out of bed. 10 Unlucky Foods That’ll Bring Misfortune on Chinese New Year & 10 That’ll Bring Wealth. Story by Spicy Chefs • 9mo. 1 / 20
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