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 nations. 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. Chinese New Year is a celebration filled with traditions and symbolism, many of which are associated with luck and prosperity. + 4 zodiac signs that will make bold decisions in 2025 One of the 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 One of the most well-known superstitions tied to Lunar New Year is not washing your hair. People avoid washing their hair on Lunar New Year because it’s believed to wash away good fortune. This belief stems from a linguistic similarity in Mandarin, with the word for hair (fa, 发) sharing both the same pronunciation and first character of the 6. Chinese New Year superstitions: Avoid washing hair. Here is another thing that you don’t have to do. Washing your hair on the first day is akin to “washing your fortune away.” This superstition has its origin in the Chinese pronunciation of hair and “becoming wealthy” which sounds similar. Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on Jan 29 (Wednesday). As Singaporeans gear up for the celebrations, these age-old superstitions remind us of the cultural richness and traditions that define the 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. But the Chinese New Year traditions and superstitions say it’s bad luck to get a haircut during the Chinese New Year season. The Chinese word for "hair" shares the same word as "wealth." Cutting your hair is considered to be cutting off your fortune, and thus is among the things not to do on Chinese New Year festival. The Chinese character for hair is the same character meaning “to become wealthy.” If someone washes their hair, they would be considered washing away their fortune. Don’t cut your hair. Similar to not washing your hair, cutting your hair is also a symbol of bad luck. When a person cuts their hair, it is associated with cutting their California TikTok creator Dr Candise Lin posted a video for her 1.4 million followers, where she explained some of the unusual superstitions associated with the Lunar New Year. Superstitions play a significant role in these celebrations, as many believe that actions taken during this period can influence their fortune for the entire year. The Origins of Chinese New Year Superstitions. Many Chinese New Year superstitions have their roots in ancient folklore and legends. It is the longest and most important festival in China. Other countries and regions with large Chinese populations, such as Hong Kong, Thailand, and the Philippines, also celebrate the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in China. 7. New clothes for the new year Got your new clothes for CNY? The colour code for CNY? Bright is right. Back in the day, colours like black and white were a no-go during Chinese New Year, since they were traditionally associated with funerals. Instead, vibrant hues, especially red, were the preferred choice – it’s the colour of luck and The Chinese zodiac’s traditions and customs resonate through our actions even in contemporary settings. As the Year of the Snake approaches, we should not underestimate the influence of some of the common folklore beliefs. 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. 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 Chinese New Year is a joyful and harmonious festival, but there are some traditional superstitions and taboos as doing them may bring bad luck. The Spring Festival typically lasts for 15 days , some things are forbidden throughout the entire festive period. This particular superstition is quite contentious and frequently results in many friendly debates during Chinese New Year visitations. Back to top. 6. No visitations on 3rd day of Chinese New Year Inauspicious to do visitations on the third day of Chinese New Year. Bai nian (translate: paying respects) is a major activity during Chinese New 6. No Haircuts On The First Day Of The New Year. It is no secret that the Chinese take their traditions very seriously. According to Lunar New Year etiquette, you should never cut your hair on the first day of the New Year. The Chinese character for ‘hair’ is also the first character in the word ‘prosper’.
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