Your Guide to Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions

CNY

There’s a whole lot to know if you’re going to celebrate Chinese New Year properly, and this year I plan on doing everything by the book and sticking as close to tradition as possible, partly to teach my little girl this side of her heritage and partly to finally satisfy the curiosity I’ve had for it all these decades. So, join me as I explain every Chinese New Year tradition that’s about to take over the city.

So far we've covered:

The Art and Traditions of CNY Couplets
Why 2024 is the Year of the Wooden Dragon
How Much to Put in Everyone's Hongbaos
A Day-to-day Breakdown of How to Celebrate CNY

Search #JingkidsCNY to find more articles on this topic.

I’m sure you’re aware of the many Chinese traditions, customs, and superstitions. The number 4 (四 sì) is unlucky because it sounds like the Chinese word for death (死 sǐ) is a common one. After some digging, however, I found that on and around the time of Chinese New Year, the number of superstitions practically doubles.

All the preparations and decorating leading up to the Chinese New Year aim to serve one purpose: to usher in good luck. It’s only natural that there would also be a bunch of things that one shouldn’t do to avoid ushering in bad luck.

So, what are some of the taboos?

1Sweeping and Cleaning

Chinese tradition dictates that sweeping the house on the first day of the Lunar New Year might sweep away good luck and fortune. It’s advisable to perform thorough cleaning before the festival, symbolizing the removal of old energy and making room for positive vibes.

2Breaking Objects

Breaking objects, whether intentionally or accidentally, is considered an ill omen during Chinese New Year. It’s believed to shatter good fortune and may bring about misfortune throughout the year.

3Lending and Borrowing Money

Settling debts before the Chinese New Year is a cultural norm. Initiating discussions about money matters during the celebrations is seen as inauspicious, as it may carry financial burdens into the new year.

4Using Unlucky Words

Words related to death, illness, or other negative outcomes are to be avoided during the festivities. Instead, people choose positive expressions that foster good fortune and happiness.

There's more to this story! This article was originally posted on our sister account, jingkids International.

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Images: Bing, Pexels

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