Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions: 18 Things You Should Not Do

  • Avoid taking medicine. …
  • Don’t sweep or take out garbage. …
  • No unlucky words. …
  • Don’t eat porridge and meat for breakfast. …
  • Avoid washing hair and getting a haircut. …
  • Don’t wash clothes. …
  • Needlework should not be done. …
  • Don’t use scissors or knives.

subsequently What do you say on Chinese New Year Eve? u201cGong hei fat choyu201d is the most common Chinese New Year greeting in Cantonese, which is spoken in parts of southern China and Hong Kong. It directly translates to u201cwishing you great happiness and prosperity.u201d In Mandarin, the same greeting is u201cgong xi fa caiu201d (pronounced gong she fa tsai).

What are traditions to do on New Year’s Eve? New Year’s Eve Traditions That Start the Year Off Right

  • of 15. Eat 12 grapes at midnight. …
  • of 15. Decorate a New Year tree. …
  • of 15. Sing “Auld Lang Syne,” Scotland-style. …
  • of 15. Get gussied up. …
  • of 15. Set your New Year’s intention. …
  • of 15. Give a toast to remember. …
  • of 15. Light those sparklers. …
  • of 15.

as well Can you wash your hair on Chinese New Year Eve? The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosper. This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces chances of prosperity in the year ahead.

Is it bad luck to shower on New Year’s day?

If for any reason a gift is to be given this day, leave it in a car or out building New Year’s Eve. — Some cultures believe one should not wash his or her hair on New Year’s Day because it will wash away the good fortune of that person.

What color should you not wear on Chinese New Year? You Must Not Wear Black

Everyone loves the colour black because it flatters most body shapes. Unfortunately, it is a colour that you must never wear during the new year because black is typically worn during funerals. The colour has been associated with death, depression and all sorts of inauspicious things!

identically Should you do laundry on New Year’s Eve? Get your laundry wash, dried, folded and put away by New Year’s Eve. This is a no-brainer, but you should make sure to have food in your cupboard before midnight. Think of it as an insurance policy — if you have food on hand, you’ll continue to have food throughout the year, according to tradition.

Can I wash my hair on New Year’s day? Clean the house before New Year if you don’t want to wash away your fortunes. No cutting hair, fingernails or other things during the first few days. Washing hair on the first day is also not a good idea.

Are you not supposed to do laundry on New Year’s?

Don’t do laundry on New Year’s Day, or a member of the family will be washed away (i.e., die) during the coming year. … Doing laundry on New Year’s Day will wash a year of good fortune down the drain.

What should you not do on the first day of Chinese New Year? Do not lend or borrow anything on the first day of lunar January, especially money. Lending money is an unlucky omen, which means economical loss, so people should not offend friends or neighbors by borrowing something from them. Asking for return of debts owed is also a Chinese New Year taboo.

What can you not eat during Chinese New Year?

In Chinese tradition, white is an unlucky color because it symbolizes death, so all white foods are out for the celebration. Tofu, eggs, white cheeses — say goodbye to them for the night. We’re not sure where brown eggs stand since they have white insides, but perhaps it’s better to be safe and cook up something else.

Can you wash your hair on New Year’s day? Clean the house before New Year if you don’t want to wash away your fortunes. No cutting hair, fingernails or other things during the first few days. Washing hair on the first day is also not a good idea.

What is bad luck on new year’s Day?

This is an odd one. According to folklore, if you wash clothes on New Year’s Day, you’ll be “washing for the dead” or washing a loved one away — meaning someone in your household will die in the coming year. Get your laundry wash, dried, folded and put away by New Year’s Eve.

What should you not do on new year’s Day?

New Year’s Day Superstitions

  • Do not wash clothes or dishes on New Year’s Day as you’ll be washing for the dead in the new year. …
  • Do not take anything out of the house on New Year’s Day. …
  • Your first visitor of the new year influences your entire year. …
  • Pay your bills on New Year’s Eve. …
  • Work just a little, but not a lot.

Is it bad luck to clean on new year’s Eve? If you’re concerned about “sweeping” or “washing” away any luck coming your way, don’t do any cleaning—including dishes and laundry. Actually, just before midnight, so you can let the old year out and welcome the new one. … And who that person is will supposedly will say a lot about the luck you’ll have in the new year.

What brings good luck on New Years Eve? Eat black-eyed peas and collard greens.

Eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on the first day of the new year is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity (aka that $$, honey).

What should you not eat on new year’s day?

Unlucky Foods to Avoid on New Year’s Day and Beyond

  • of 16. If It Has Wings, Stay Away. …
  • of 16. Say No to Chicken. …
  • of 16. Don’t Eat White Foods. …
  • of 16. Keep Lobsters Off the Menu. …
  • of 16. Whatever You Eat, Don’t Eat It All. …
  • of 16. Don’t Give Parsley as a Gift. …
  • of 16. Let Your Chopsticks Slouch. …
  • of 16. Don’t Cut Bananas.

Why can’t you sweep on new year’s Day? The idea is that you sweep out luck if you sweep on New Year’s Day. The first guest in your home on New Year’s Day fills an important role in the coming year. … A blonde, a redhead or a female should be barred from coming into your home first.

What do you eat on the first day of Chinese New Year?

The most common Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao. We’ve rounded up 7 essential Chinese, or Lunar, New Year dishes, and included the symbolism behind them all.

Do you say Lunar or Chinese New Year? The correct translation of the name of the holiday that has been celebrated for thousands of years in various eastern and southeastern Asian countries, in addition to China, is “Lunar New Year.” For thousands of years, the Chinese called, and still call, Lunar New Year’s Day chunjie (“spring festival”).

Can you cut your nails during Chinese New Year?

CNY last for 15 days and you do not cut hair or nails during this period. No cleaning of house or sweeping of floor during 15 days of CNY. It is like sweeping away your fortune. Nowadays, most people follow this for first few days of CNY.

What does orange mean Chinese? Orange. It is believed that painting your walls orange can usher in good fortune and abundance. The ancient Chinese associated the colour with harvests, happiness, wealth, and celebrations.

How many oranges do you need for Chinese New Year?

Tip: Always offer two mandarin oranges with both hands. This is the most basic form of respect in Chinese culture. Your recipient may politely refuse at first, but don’t give up — keep trying and they’ll eventually give in and exchange a pair with you!

What do oranges mean in Chinese culture? The words for tangerine and orange in Chinese resemble the words for luck and success, respectively. Their bright color also symbolizes gold, hence the fruits have a meaning of bringing good luck and wealth.

What should you not eat on New Year’s day?

What NOT To Eat On New Year’s Day

  • Poultry & Winged Fowl. You should avoid eating anything with wings on New Year’s Day because it is believed your good luck will “fly away” with your meal. …
  • Lobster, Shrimp & Crab. …
  • Bottom-Feeding Fish. …
  • White-Colored Foods. …
  • Short Noodles. …
  • Keep Leftovers. …
  • Don’t Pass the Knife.

What is good luck for Chinese new year?

Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year. Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to ‘scare away’ ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the New Year. Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a “sweet” year.