16 Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstition
Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions: 16 Things You Should Not Do.
Discover the top 16 things you should avoid. Some are taboos on the first day of the Chinese New Year, while others are superstitions that last throughout the New Year Festival (from the 1st to 15th of the Lunar New Year).
1. Avoid taking medicine.
If a person brews herbal medicine or takes medicine on the first day of the lunar year, it is believed that he or she will get unwell for the rest of the year.
Sick people in some localities smash their gallipots (medicine pots) after the bell ringing in the New Year at midnight on New Year's Day, believing that this habit will drive the illness away in the next year.
2. Don't sweep or take out garbage.
On this day, sweeping is associated with sweeping prosperity away. Taking away the garbage represents removing the good luck or fortune from the home.
3. Don't eat porridge and meat for breakfast.
Porridge should not be eaten since it is thought that only the impoverished eat porridge for breakfast, and no one wants to start the year "poor," as this is considered a negative omen.
Furthermore, meat should not be consumed during this breakfast in honor of the (Buddhist) gods (who are thought to be opposed to animal slaughter), as all gods are expected to be out meeting and wishing each other a happy New Year.
4. Don't wash clothes and hair.
People do not wash their garments on the first and second days since the Water God's birthday is celebrated on these days.
On the first day of the lunar year, hair should not be washed. Hair has the same pronunciation (and is the same character) in Chinese as fa in facai, which signifies 'to grow affluent.' As a result, it is considered bad luck to "wipe one's fortune away" at the start of the New Year.
5. Needlework should not be done.
Knives and scissors should not be used since any mishap, whether it harms a person or a tool, is supposed to bring bad luck and money depletion in the future year.
6. A married daughter is not allowed to visit the house of her parents.
A married daughter is not permitted to visit her parents' home since it is believed that doing so will bring bad luck to the parents and cause financial difficulty for the family. On the second day of Chinese New Year, a married daughter pays a visit to her parents' home.

7. Keep children from crying.
Because a child's cry is thought to bring ill luck to the family, parents try whatever they can to keep their children from crying.
8. Avoid breaking tools or other equipment.
Breaking tools or other equipment during this time is linked to a loss of money for the next year, therefore tradesmen and businesspeople take extra precautions to avoid it.
9. No visiting hospital.
A visit to the hospital around this time is thought to bring illness to the individual in question for the rest of the year; hence, hospital visits are avoided unless absolutely necessary.
10. Avoid being stolen.
During the Spring Festival, do not allow others to remove items from your pocket, especially money, and avoid having your pocket picked, as this is thought to foreshadow the theft of your whole riches in the future year.
11. Avoid borrowing money.
Money should not be lent on New Year's Day, and all debts must be paid by New Year's Eve; also, do not go to the home of someone who owes you money to demand payment. It is supposed that anyone who does so will be unlucky for the rest of the year.
12. The rice jar should not be empty.
Allowing the rice container to become empty is not a good idea. This raises great concern, as not cooking during the New Year is considered a bad omen.
13. Don't wear damaged clothes.
Wearing torn clothing is not a good idea. It is thought that if children wear such clothing in the first lunar month, it will bring them bad luck.
14. No killing.
From the 1st to the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, killing should be avoided since blood is regarded an omen that will bring disasters such as a knife wound or a gory calamity. Chickens, ducks, pigs, and fish are commonly slaughtered before Chinese New Year or on Chinese New Year's Eve.
15. Do not wear white or black.
Wearing white or black clothing is not recommended because these colors are usually connected with mourning.
16. Don't give certain gifts.
Certain gifts, such as clocks, scissors, and pears, have negative connotations in Chinese culture. More information on what not to present at Chinese New Year may be found here.

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