Chinese New Year Taboos
Whether you’re planning on spending your Chinese New Year in China or visiting friends and family abroad, there are some things you should definitely avoid doing. These superstitions are known as “Chinese New Year Taboos,” and they’re meant to keep you from bringing bad luck into your life.
1. Do not shower on the first day of the Chinese New Year
A lot of people tend to do this, especially in western countries, but it’s actually a bad idea in Chinese culture. It’s believed that showering can wash away all of your good luck for the coming year.
2. Do not wash your hair on the first day of the Chinese New Year
This is a common superstition in many different cultures. However, it’s a particularly strong one in Chinese culture.
Because the word for hair (Fa ) is a homonym to the word for ‘wealth’ (Fa Cai ), it’s a big no-no to wash your hair on the first day of the new year, because doing so can wash away all of your prosperity for the coming year.
3. Do not eat meat for breakfast
This may sound like a strange rule, but it is actually very important. It is said that eating meat on the first day of the Chinese New Year will make you poor and hungry all year long.
4. Do not eat congee for breakfast
This is another food that’s considered to be bad for you on the first day of the Chinese New Year. It is believed that only poor people eat porridge for breakfast, so it’s a very unlucky choice to eat this on the first day of the new year.
5. Do not eat pear on the first day of the Chinese New Year
While this fruit is often enjoyed for its sweet, refreshing taste, it’s also seen as an ill omen in Chinese culture. It’s believed that giving someone a pear during festive occasions is a bad idea, because the word for ‘pear’ in Chinese is pronounced the same as the word for ‘leave’.
6. Do not break stuff on the first day of the Chinese New Year
There is a longstanding belief that breaking anything on the first day of the new year can bring bad luck and a lack of money for the entire year. If you do happen to accidentally break something, quickly say “Peace for all time” before throwing it away to prevent the bad luck from becoming worse.
7. Do not purchase books on the first day of the Chinese New Year
It is also considered bad luck to buy any books on the first day of the Chinese New year because it’s believed that they will cost you money throughout the rest of the year.
8. Do not use knives and scissors on the first day of the Chinese New Year
These two items are particularly feared during the Chinese New Year. It’s a good idea to put them in their designated drawers on the first day of the new year, as they can be very bad for you and your health.
