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. Understanding Chinese New Year Superstitions. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in Chinese culture. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for family reunions, feasting, and observing various traditions. 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. Superstitions on Chinese New Year 1. Keep the Lights Turning On. However, few know about this superstition and the reasons behind it, but it has been believed that the third day of Chinese New Year is an ominous one. Scarlet/Red Dog Day (or Chi Gou Day) According to traditional folklore, it is a day when socialising should be kept at a bare minimum as disagreements and resentments can easily fester. Learn 16 things you should never do during the Chinese New Year, such as breaking, sweeping, crying, and wearing black or white clothes. These practices are believed to bring bad luck and misfortune for the coming year. 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 Chinese New Year is a time when age-old superstitions are observed by households as festive customs & traditions. If you are interested in superstitions, we have plenty of blog posts with fascinating superstitions from the Super Bowl, holidays, Friday the 13th, and more. Ready to discover some of the quirkiest and luckiest traditions for the Lunar New Year? Let’s dive into this list of 12 Chinese New Year superstitions! 1. Avoid black and white. Chinese New Year is all about vibrant colors and festive vibes, especially red, which symbolizes good luck and prosperity! Even outside of Chinese New Year, these “rituals” are highly regarded and many are still practised here in Singapore today. So if you want to rake in all that wealth and prosperity and get that extra huat this year, it might be useful to keep some of these Chinese superstitions in mind. It’s exciting to know that people worldwide enjoy Chinese New Year snacks. As for Chinese superstitions, it’s good to offer sweet snacks during the new year. Wrapping Up. These superstitions were formed thousands of years back based on the wishes, worries, beliefs, and cultures of the time. 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 9. Do not give New Year blessings to someone still in bed. You are supposed to give New Year blessings (拜年 / bài nián). But let the recipient get up from bed first. Otherwise, they’ll be bed-ridden for the entire year. You also shouldn’t tell someone to wake up. You don’t want them to be rushed around or bossed for the year. The stories date back thousands of years. Read on to learn of a few popular and interesting Chinese New Year myths. The Monster and New Year’s Eve. In ancient times, there was a monster named Nián (年). It usually lived at the bottom of the sea and would come up once a year to feast on animals and humans. As the first day of the lunar year, Chinese New Year's Day has more taboos, such as pouring water out, sweeping, dumping, getting in by the back door, using knife, scissor or needle, washing clothes, breaking utensils, lending to others, punishing children, taking a snap, and washing hair. In Chinese tradition, cleaning during the new year is believed to sweep away wealth and good fortune. Even taking out the garbage is seen as tossing out prosperity from the home. So, yes – this gives you the perfect excuse to put off housework until after Chinese New Year. Let the tradition work in your favour! 11. Enjoy festive CNY events Chinese New Year superstitions. One of the biggest festivals in China, Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, has numerous Chinese superstitions that come into play. Cleaning rituals. In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, homes are meticulously cleaned, an act believed to sweep away any lingering bad luck from the previous year. Chinese New Year is made up of a rich fabric of symbols, traditions and superstitions designed to influence the future. With a cultural heritage that spans more than 5,000 years, it's a 15-day celebration filled food that may shape your future. 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. New Year is probably the most superstitious time in China. With some pretty rigorous rules about what you can and can’t do and the seemingly endless baijiu-fueled firework extravaganza raging in the street, Spring Festival is an extreme time to experience Chinese culture as an expat. 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
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