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. On the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, there is a Chinese New Year taboo on sweeping the house and dumping the trash. Otherwise, all the savings and valuables will be swept away. If it is really necessary, the house owner should start the sweeping from outside to inside of the house, which intimates collecting money. 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. Staying away from sweeping and washing the floor on New Year’s Day is considered taboo among Chinese people. It is believed that sweeping or washing the floor on this day will bring bad luck, as it reminds people of the end year. Moreover, sweeping or washing the floor on new year’s day may lead to accidents in the year ahead. Killing should be strictly avoided from the 1st to 15th of the Lunar New Year because blood is considered something not good, an ill omen, for example, even misfortunes such as a knife wound, or a bloody disaster. All meat products from chickens, ducks, pigs, and fishes should be well prepared before Chinese New Year or on Chinese New Year's 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. Refrain from doing laundry during the first few days of the Lunar New Year to ensure that you preserve the blessings and prosperity of the auspicious occasion. 20. Refrain from Taking Out the Garbage. Taking out the garbage during Chinese New Year is believed to discard good luck and prosperity along with the trash. 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 Breaking objects, whether intentionally or accidentally, is considered an ill omen during Chinese New Year. It’s believed to shatter good fortune and may bring about misfortune throughout the year. Lending and Borrowing Money: Borrowing or demanding debts during the festival. Settling debts before the Chinese New Year is a cultural norm. (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. It should be full to ensure that you will not encounter any hunger next year. You are not supposed to go to bed early on New Year’s Eve. On the contrary, you should stay up late and alert in order to keep the “Sui” monster away. On the first day of the lunar year: Chinese people consider New Year’s Day a very important day. The number 2 is most often considered a good number in Chinese culture because the Chinese always think good things come in pairs. Taboos for Chinese New Year Yes, this sounds very absurd. The reason for this Chinese New Year taboo is that the pronunciation of hair (发, fa) in Mandarin is the same as that of fa in facai (发财). Thus, meaning to become wealthy. So, washing or cutting hair on the day of the New Year is equivalent to washing your fortunes away. Put a Halt to Needlework Prevent bad luck or jinxing yourself during Lunar New Year by not uttering words with negative connotations. Examples include death, sick, empty, poor, and kill. Sweeping. Sweeping and cleaning should only take place before the Lunar New Year. Sweeping during the New Year could sweep out the good luck that may have collected in your household. Chinese New Year . There are many Chinese New Year taboos to be wary of. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, inauspicious words cannot be spoken. For example, words such as break, spoil, die, gone, and poor should not be uttered. 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 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. 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. They often add some red decorations, such as red scarves or brooches, to keep a festive tone. Wearing black clothing during the New Year may create a solemn mood for the festival. Lunar New Year’s Eve: The Reunion Dinner. At the heart of Lunar New Year celebrations is the reunion dinner on Lunar New Year’s Eve, which falls on January 28, 2025. A traditional reunion dinner has many dishes, including steamed or fried fish, rice cakes and balls, noodles and dumplings.
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