Wah Chan Gold & Jewellery: 10 Taboos & Superstitions You Must Avoid This Chinese New Year

It’s hard to believe, but two weeks from now we will be celebrating 2016 Lunar New Year. Well, once again, we are looking at the same checklist of things to do right until the first day of New Year, which are riddled with superstitions and taboos.

And to make sure you didn’t break any, here are the top Chinese New Year taboos you must avoid…

1. NO sweeping and throwing out

Yes, you might know you can’t sweep floor only on the first day of Chinese New Year, for fear of sweeping away the family’s fortune. But sweeping out to the entrance and throwing away garbages during Chinese New Year will equally "sweep out" the wealth of the entire year.

Sweeping is allowed on second day of Chinese New Year
but sweeping out and throwing away rubbish are not allowed

2. NO hair washing on the first day of Chinese New Year

Hair is a homonym to wealth in Chinese; therefore it is seen as not a good thing to “wash one’s fortune away” at the beginning of the New Year.

Some elders would allow for hair washing after 9pm
on the first day of Chinese New Year

3. NO money borrowing or lending

Some believe that borrowing or lending money during Chinese New Year will bring bad luck as you will be likely to borrow or lend for the rest of year. Thus, all debts should be cleared before the first day of the new year.

Clearing all debts is also a good resolution
for a new year ahead

4. NO hair cut

Similarly, getting your hair cut during this time might chop off your fortune luck in the New Year. The word hair in Chinese, fa can be meant “wealth” and “rich” too.

This explains why you need a hair cut
other than fashioning purpose

5. NO number 4

The pronunciation of four, si sounds like “death” in Chinese word and thus regarded as inauspicious. Any sayings or decorations that are related to four are forbidden throughout the festival.

Though tangerines are prosperous fruits, arranging them
in four will bring in opposite meaning

6. NO books and shoes buying

Again a homonym, books sounds like “lose” and shoes sounds as if “sigh” or “hard”, making them inauspicious.

A more reasonable explanation is that we should spend
more time with family and friends instead of shopping

7. NO crying

Chinese traditions hold that, if you cry during Chinese New Year, you will cry throughout the year. Therefore, children are tolerated, even if they are mischievous.

Babies are exempted though, as they rarely
cry for being mischievous

8. NO breaking

Breaking plates or glasses are not auspicious in Chinese New Year as it signifies misfortune. If you unfortunately did, quickly say "Peace all the time" to counter the bad luck. Don't throw the broken pieces until the 5th day of celebration.

Saying "Peace all the time" will ward away bad luck

9. NO afternoon nap

It is believed that taking afternoon nap on the first day of Lunar New Year will bring you a lazy year ahead.

Taking an afternoon nap also shows a disrespect
to visiting family and friends

10. NO black & white

Black and white clothes always remind people of sad occasions such as funerals, thus should be avoided throughout the festival.

Chinese New Year always welcomes
red colour as it symbolizes luck

Source: anomadsdream, 360changshi, chcpmc, durianproperty,
hk.ulifestyle, justthedesign, newhealthadvisor, spectrum-paint,
tw.ptt01, yiguoshenghuo，fengshuibeginner

Hopefully by now you will have a better insight on how taboos and superstitions during Chinese New Year are observed. While many people may not believe in these nowadays, the traditions are still kept as a legacy from the past. And after all, who doesn't like the bit of luck in the new year?

Besides obeying these superstitions, Chinese culture is also full of accessories that symbolize good luck, such as our fine pendants here.