Chinese New Year superstitions are the traditional dos and don’ts of this amazing celebration. In this article, I will explain a variety of Chinese New Year superstitions, varying from most popular to most bizarre. I will also cover whether Chinese New Year superstitions are seen as tedious and troublesome or hopeful and assuring. Ready? Let’s go!
Don’t sweep the floor
This is one of the most common superstitions. In Chinese culture, sweeping the floor during the New Year is considered a misfortune. This is because good luck is believed to begin when the clock strikes 12, if you’d be to wipe, sweep, or wash away any of that luck, you will have bad luck the rest of the year. The belief is that you might accidentally sweep away good fortune and prosperity. Now, that might seem unsettling but not to worry, because before the Chinese New Year, spring cleaning is an absolute must! It is believed that by cleaning your house, you are removing any bad luck belonging to the previous year. This also ensures space for good fortune and prosperity to be welcomed throughout the coming year and assures the feeling of cleanliness in your house, helping you to avoid sweeping or cleaning during the celebration. This superstition is about preserving positive energy and welcoming good luck in your home!
No washing or cutting your hair
Washing or cutting your hair is bad luck during the Chinese New Year. This is because in Chinese, the word for hair sounds similar to wealth. Therefore, washing your hair on Chinese New Year, a season full of prosperous opportunities, you would be washing away your fortune for the rest of the year. Likewise, cutting your hair could symbolise cutting the length of your life shorter or cutting your wealth away for the year. Cutting your hair during the Chinese New Year festive season is also said to cause harm to your uncle, your mother’s brother. Unfortunately, before Chinese New Year, due to the fact that people often cut their hair to remove the bad luck from the previous year, prices are often known to rise during the CNY season.
Don’t say ‘unlucky’ words
During the Lunar New Year period, people avoid saying words that have negative meanings, such as death, sickness, or loss. This is because they believe that what they say will affect their luck in the coming year. This superstition is based on the idea that words have power and can influence reality.
Lucky/unlucky colours and numbers
Numbers and colours are very important in Chinese culture, especially during the New Year. Some numbers and colours are considered lucky, while others are unlucky. For example, the number 8 is lucky because in Chinese, it sounds like another word meaning prosperity. Similarly, in Chinese, the number 4 is unlucky because it sounds like another word which means death. It is believed that lucky numbers are even numbers, so when giving Ang Pao or Lai See, people often choose to give even numbers. Another belief is that the lucky numbers often start after 6, such as 8 or 10. As well as numbers being unlucky during Chinese New Year, colours also symbolise something. It is said that red is a boost for luck and protection against evil spirits, therefore, it is a lucky colour. Red also symbolises happiness and success; hence it has become a popular tradition to wear red during Chinese New Year. On the other hand, white is considered an unlucky colour because it is associated with mourning and funerals. White is also believed to bring misfortune because it is not a vibrant colour, unlike red.
Orange, Orange, Orange, Orange, Orange, Orange
Oranges are a common fruit that people give and receive during the New Year. They represent good luck, wealth, and abundance because they are round, golden, and sweet. In Chinese, orange sounds much like the word for success, as well as in Cantonese, the word for tangerine sounds like the word for luck. Therefore, people often place oranges around their homes and give them to family and friends, attracting and spreading good fortune.
No eating porridge, medicine, or meat
On the first day of the New Year, people avoid eating porridge, meat, or medicine. In the past, in China, porridge used to be eaten by people living in poverty, and it is said that eating porridge during the New Year will leave you poor for the rest of the year. Meat is avoided because killing animals is also considered to bring bad luck. This is because during Chinese New Year, committing or even talking about death and killing is a huge misdeed that will cause misery for the rest of the year and perhaps death of loved ones or pets. Another food-related taboo is medicine because it implies that one is sick or will get sick throughout the rest of the year. People believe that by avoiding these foods, they will have a healthy, good year ahead and a long and healthy life.
Until today, Chinese New Year Superstitions are still believed, some believe to dodge bad luck and some like to keep the tradition. Whether you believe in superstitions or not, Chinese New Year is a hopeful season to get together with your loved ones (even if you don’t celebrate!) or have a break, under some air con!
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