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. 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 the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, or even for a whole month. Hereunder are 16 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. So, as we get ready to embrace the vibrant celebrations ahead, let’s take a moment to appreciate and respect the cultural customs that make Chinese New Year so rich and meaningful. Here’s a list of 20 Chinese New Year taboos to keep in mind for a prosperous and harmonious start to the Lunar New Year. 20 Chinese New Year Taboos 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. The Chinese New Year taboos mentioned above are widely observed throughout the entire Lunar New Year celebration. Keep reading to learn about more Chinese New Year taboos day by day from the Chinese New Year's Eve. 10. Don't Eat All of the Fish. Fish is a must-have dish at the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. It's a homophone for the word Here are some of the key taboos to avoid during Chinese New Year, as outlined by China Highlights. 1. Sweeping the Floor. Sweeping the floor during the Chinese New Year is considered to drive away good fortune. It is also associated with sweeping away wealth. On the first day of the lunar year: Chinese people consider New Year’s Day a very important day. There are many taboos on this day. No washing clothes or hair or bathing. The first and second day of the lunar year is the birthday of the “Water God”, so you are not supposed to use water to show respect for the Water God. Chinese tradition dictates that sweeping the house on the first day of the Lunar New Year might sweep away good luck and fortune. It’s advisable to perform thorough cleaning before the festival, symbolizing the removal of old energy and making room for positive vibes. Breaking Objects: Breaking things during the festival. Breaking objects 12. A married daughter is not allowed to visit her parents’ house on Chinese New Year’s Day. In some Chinese cultures, it is believed that having a married daughter visiting her parent’s house on the day of the Chinese New Year will bring bad luck to the parents, causing their family to suffer from economic hardship. Therefore, it is Clothes Taboos: In traditional Chinese culture, people wear red for the New Year. White clothes are often used to show memory of the deceased, so they are not seen as lucky. However, with the changing times and the influence of new cultures, some young people might choose to wear white clothing during the New Year to show their style. Killing any living creature during the New Year period is considered extremely unlucky. Many people prepare meat dishes in advance to avoid having to slaughter animals during this time. Understanding Chinese New Year Superstitions. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in Chinese culture. 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. Last Updated on 2023-01-10 , 5:08 pm. Many of us have probably forgotten about some of the taboos and traditions that we have to follow during the Chinese New Year period every year, so we’ve taken the liberty of collating 10 taboos that you must never commit on Chinese New Year, or your entire year might be suay. There are a whole load of superstitions and taboos to be observed during this period and so today, I’ll discussed some pertaining only to the interest of women. Do not buy shoes during the entire Chinese New Year So the Chinese, particularly the Cantonese, believe that we shouldn’t buy shoes during the entire 15 days of the Chinese New Year. Things You Should Not Do During Chinese New Year. 2025 Chinese New Year Day is on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 and the Chinese New Year's eve is on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. 2025 is the year of the Green Wood Snake. Chinese celebrate Chinese Festival for 15 days long, from Chinese New Year Day to Chinese Moon Festival. (8 Traditional Customs of Chinese New Year) Some examples include eating annual reunion family dinner (團年飯) and a tea pouring ritual. However, before you know about the do’s, it is more important to talk about the don’ts of Chinese New Year. There are many Chinese taboos surrounding the lunar new year. All meat products from chickens, ducks, pigs, and fishes should be well prepared before Chinese New Year or on Chinese New Year's Eve. 15. Chinese Gift-giving Taboos . Be careful about bringing gifts when paying visits as some of the gifts represents good luck whereas some of them bring bad luck in Chinese customs. All auspicious things aside, there are certain taboos that must be avoided during Chinese New Year: 1. No cleaning! Any type of “spring cleaning” must take place before the new year and never during the actual holiday. This allows the cleaned space to be filled with the new blessings and fortunes of the new year. The cleaning should be finished before the New Year's Eve to clean away the dirt and the old of the past year and usher in the new. During the festival, any sweeping should be avoided. From the New Year's Day to the 5th day of the first lunar month, it is a taboo to sweep the trash out or pour water out, otherwise the good luck will be taken away.
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