Celebrated by many throughout Asia, Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) is a festive occasion that ushers in the new year, honoring the return of spring and heralding the beginning of the planting season.
With its origins in the distant past, Lunar New Year today carries many of the same superstitions and taboos that began or were incorporated during its earliest celebrations. As such, a variety of activities and customs have become forbidden during the first day (or several days) of the new year.
Get into the holiday spirit and welcome the New Year with good luck and good fortune by learning what not to do once the calendar resets.
10 Lunar New Year Taboos to Avoid
Crying
Crying is a harbinger of misfortune and must be prevented if at all possible – with some going so far as suggesting parents refrain from punishing their children for the days surrounding the New Year.
Negative Words
Words have power – especially when spoken aloud. Prevent bad luck or jinxing yourself during Lunar New Year by not uttering words with negative connotations. Examples include death, sick, empty, poor, and kill.
Sweeping
Sweeping and cleaning should only take place before the Lunar New Year. Sweeping during the New Year could sweep out the good luck that may have collected in your household.
Clothes Washing
Much like sweeping, washing clothes should be avoided during the first few days of the New Year. However, unlike sweeping, clothes washing is related to the birthday of a traditional water god, and thus, washing during this time might offend him, bringing bad luck.
Using Scissors
Because scissor usage is discouraged, haircuts are also taboo for a full month after the Lunar New Year. In fact, many hair salons and barbershops are closed for this entire month in honor of the tradition.
Haircuts
Because scissor usage is discouraged, haircuts are also taboo for a full month after the Lunar New Year. In fact, many hair salons and barbershops are closed for this entire month in honor of the tradition.
Wearing Black or White
In traditional East Asian culture, black and white clothing is typically only worn for somber occasions such as funerals or periods of mourning. Wearing these colors during the New Year festival can be seen as inviting misfortune and even death into your life.
Waking Someone Up
People are expected to wake up on their own during the New Year celebrations. Waking someone up is considered to bring stress to the person by making them feel they must always be working hard throughout the coming year.
Porridge
The first meal of the new year must never be rice porridge. Rice porridge is symbolic of a poverty-stricken past when this was one of the only meals available at the time. Eating this dish is believed to bring ill luck in money.
Napping
Taking a nap on the first day of the New Year sets a lazy tone for the coming months ahead. Avoid napping to encourage a productive and positive life throughout the year.
Interested in experiencing the Lunar New Year in-person? Explore great places to stay for Asia’s biggest annual celebration.
FAQs
Negative Words
Words have power – especially when spoken aloud. Prevent bad luck or jinxing yourself during Lunar New Year by not uttering words with negative connotations. Examples include death, sick, empty, poor, and kill.
What is considered taboo on Lunar New Year? ›
The pervasive taboos:
Don't say unlucky words like “death”, “illness” or “loss” because if you use these words during the festival, they will follow you the whole year. Don't break porcelain or glass. Don't scold children.
What is not allowed during the Lunar New Year? ›
Don't shower on Chinese New Year's Day. Stay away from sharp objects like scissors, needles, knives and others. Some taboos are also associated with gift-giving habits. While it's a common practice to come to someone's place bearing gifts, some are forbidden.
What brings good luck on Lunar New Year? ›
Fireworks & Firecrackers
In China, billions of firecrackers, wrapped in red—the lucky color—are set off during the spring festival to celebrate new beginnings and invite good fortune. According to legend, the explosive sound of firecrackers was used to scare away evil spirits, who might otherwise bring bad luck.
What is the forbidden color for Chinese New Year? ›
Choose your outfit wisely for Chinese New Year and avoid the colours black and white as they are often associated with grief and mourning.
Why can't you shower on Lunar New Year? ›
This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces chances of prosperity in the year ahead. Actually, LNY fundamentalists will tell you taking a shower is also off-limits on the first day for the same reason.
What colors not to wear on Lunar New Year? ›
Both white and black are unlucky colors for Chinese New Year.
What food is bad luck for Lunar New Year? ›
In Chinese tradition, white is an unlucky color because it symbolizes death, so all white foods are out for the celebration. Tofu, eggs, rice, cauliflower, white cheeses—say goodbye to them for the night. Instead, fill your New Year's table with other colorful foods.
What brings bad luck on New Year's day? ›
Don't Clean the House on New Year's Day - You will wash away any good luck coming your way.
What are the unlucky colors for Lunar New Year? ›
The most popular lucky colors for Spring Festival celebrations are red (good fortune), yellow (harmony), green (growth). Unlucky colors for Chinese New Year are white and black, so should be avoided. Each color holds particular significance and symbolism, representing positive or negative associations.
No washing or cutting your hair
It is believed that if you wash your hair on New Year's day, you'd also be washing away all your luck. It's somewhat similar to if you cut your hair, you'd be cutting your life shorter!
Why can't you wear white on Lunar New Year? ›
In traditional Chinese culture, wearing all-white (or all-black) is often reserved for funerals so many believe it is a bad omen - a symbol of loss and mourning, if white is worn on New Year's day.
What is the lucky money for Lunar New Year? ›
The story of hóngbāo. At Lunar New Year, it's tradition to give the gift of a bright, beautiful red envelope (known as 紅包, hóngbāo) to your friends and family. But not just any old envelope. These are filled with money - and symbolize good wishes and luck for the new year ahead.
What fruit is eaten on Lunar New Year? ›
In Lunar New Year traditions, revelers believe tangerines, oranges and pomelos bring good fortune. Their Mandarin names echo words with symbolic meanings: "jú" for oranges suggests "good luck" or "fortune," "chéng" for tangerine is akin to "success," and "youzi" for pomelos sounds similar to "have" or "abundance."
What are the unlucky numbers for Lunar New Year? ›
Unlucky numbers are 4 and 9. Number 4 sounds like "death" and makes them serious, while 9 dims their gentle aura, making them seem egotistical.
What is considered bad luck on New Year's day? ›
Don't Clean the House on New Year's Day - You will wash away any good luck coming your way. Thought: No problem – never have to tell me twice on this one!
What is not considered a tradition during Chinese New Year? ›
Sweeping dirt and dust out of the house and dumping trash are believed to be sweeping away and dumping good fortune. Washing clothes on the first two days of Lunar New Year is also considered an offense to the Water God as it's the god's birthday.
