10 taboos you should always observe during Chinese New Year

 

The Year of the Ox has finally arrived and there are some taboos to be remembered while celebrating it. (Chee Gin Tan pic)

Chinese New Year is generally regarded to be the biggest and most important cultural event for the Chinese community.

As such, many traditions and practices have sprung up around the festival, with many ancient rules put in place ages ago.

And in addition to these rules, there are also many taboos that have been observed, with superstitious people taking great care not to violate them.

Some of these taboos are quite well-known, while others are a little more obscure and are only observed in a few households today.

So, what are some of these taboos that you may or may not have heard of? Here is a list of 10 taboos to observe in the lead-up to Chinese New Year.

1. Avoid taking medicine

Leave the pills for another day. (Freepik pic)

This taboo might not be too apt during these times, but there is a belief that taking medicines or making a visit to the hospital is ill-advised in the days leading up to Chinese New Year.

Why is this so? The taboo suggests that if a person is to take medicine on the first day of the new year, they may fall ill for the rest of the year.

In the past, after the arrival of the New Year was announced via bell-ringing, people with illnesses would break their medicine pots.

They believed that doing so will drive away their illnesses in the coming year.

2. A married daughter should not visit her parents’ house

According to tradition, a married daughter ought to visit her parents on the second day of Chinese New Year rather than the first.

This is because there is a taboo that states that if she visits them on the first day of the New Year, she will bring bad luck to them and cause money troubles for the whole family.

3. Avoid eating porridge and meat for breakfast

Eating meat for breakfast is seen as inappropriate in some households. (Pixabay pic)

This taboo is not particularly known nowadays, but it is likely derived from the image of porridge as a poor person’s food.

That being said, eating “poor people’s food” on the first days of the new year would be seen as a bad omen.

In addition, meat should not be eaten at breakfast; this is largely due to the Buddhist philosophy that generally advises against the killing of other living creatures.

4. Prevent children from crying

Crying children are thought to bring bad luck to the family, so it is not uncommon to see parents pacifying their children on the first few days of the New Year.

If you do see your family members struggling to keep their children happy, do be kind about the noise and added stress.

5. Avoid sweeping or throwing out the trash

You would be literally sweeping all the luck out. (Pixabay pic)

By sweeping the house or cleaning up on the auspicious days of Chinese New Year, you will be sweeping away or wiping out the wealth that was about to enter your house and life.

In the same manner, throwing out the trash is akin to dumping out the good luck stored within your home.

As a general rule, try not to make a mess so there will be nothing to clean up after.

6. Avoid breaking anything

Any tradesman who happens to break a tool or some equipment during the New Year season is said to expect a loss of wealth in the coming year.

Likewise, it is considered a bad omen if you happen to break dishes, which apparently means you are breaking your access to prosperity and good luck.

7. Avoid working with needles

Using needles and other sharp objects during the New Year may lead to unfortunate accidents. (Pixabay pic)

Thinking of doing some embroidery while awaiting the arrival of the Year of the Ox? Forget it!

Using knives and scissors may lead to accidents, and any harm caused to a person with these tools may lead to inauspicious events and the loss of one’s wealth.

8. Avoid giving out certain gifts

While it is a nice gesture to give out gifts to friends and loved ones, some items are deemed inappropriate as Chinese New Year gifts.

Clocks, in particular, are an awful gift as they represent one’s depleting lifespan.

On the other hand, mirrors are also something to avoid gifting as they are believed to attract evil spirits.

9. Avoid washing one’s clothes and hair

When you wash your hair, you wash away your wealth. (Freepik pic)

The first and second days of the New Year are celebrated as the birthday of the Water God, hence, it is taboo to wash one’s clothes during this time.

It is also a common taboo to wash one’s hair on the first day of the lunar year, which has largely to do with language.

The Chinese word for hair, “fa”, is a homophone for the word “fa” in the phrase “fa cai”, which means, “to become wealthy”.

Hence, washing one’s hair is seen to be washing away one’s fortune at the beginning of the New Year.

10. Avoid borrowing or lending money

Borrowing and lending money during the Lunar New Year is seen to be in bad taste, so keep in mind that no money is to be lent on New Year’s Day and all debts ought to have been settled by New Year’s Eve.

If you are owed a debt, do not pursue the matter until after the New Year.

Anyone who disregards this taboo is believed to be stuck with bad luck for the rest of the year. - FMT