JAKARTA - For the Chinese people, Chinese New Year is the beginning of a new year which is believed to be able to affect luck throughout the year. There are many traditions about what can and cannot be done during this celebration.
There are also several things that should be avoided. Some of them are taboo on the first day of the Chinese New Year. While others are beliefs that apply throughout the Chinese New Year Festival season.
Here are 12 Chinese New Year taboos to avoid disaster, as reported by VOI from the China Highlights website on Friday, January 17, 2025.
On the first day of China's new year, taking medicine or herbal ingredients is considered taboo. It is believed that this can make a person fall ill throughout the year. In some areas, sick people will break a jug of medicine after hearing Chinese New Year's midnight bells. This is done in the hope of getting rid of disease for the year to come.
Sweeping during Chinese New Year celebrations is considered an act that can sweep wealth away. Throwing garbage is also considered a symbol of throwing luck or happiness from home.
In the Chinese New Year period, avoid words that have negative meanings such as death, illness, poverty, or ghosts. If necessary to talk about these things, people will replace them with euphemism, such as saying 'one has left' rather than 'one dies'.
Burur is considered the food of the poor, so it is not recommended to start the year with porridge because it is considered a bad sign. In addition, meat should also be avoided during breakfast as a form of respect for Buddhist gods who oppose animal killing.
Washing hair on the first day of Chinese New Year, is considered a way of "washing luck" going. Hair (, fa) in Mandarin has the same pronunciation as the word "facay" (), which means being rich. Cut the hair should also be avoided, because it is believed to be unlucky.
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On the first and second days of Chinese New Year celebrations, washing clothes was considered disrespectful because the two days were celebrated as the birthday of the god of water. Washing clothes is considered an insult to the god of water, which is also believed to symbolize wealth.
In ancient times, many sewing work was done by women. However, they don't do sewing work, starting from the 1-5 Chinese New Year celebrations, because they are believed to be able to bring life that is full of difficulties.
The use of scissors is considered a trigger for quarrels, while knives should be avoided to prevent accidents or losses that will be unlucky and a shortage of wealth in the years to come.
Don't give odd amounts of money in red envelopes, because Chinese people prefer even numbers, which are considered to bring good luck. Also avoid numbers that are considered unlucky like 4 and 40, because number 4 sounds like "death" in Mandarin.
Some gifts such as clocks, scissors, and pyers are considered to have a bad meaning in Chinese culture. There are many things that should not be given to the Chinese New Year.
Throwing items such as bowls, plates, glasses, or mirrors is considered a symbol of incompleteness and brings bad luck, financial losses, or family divisions. In the event of an accident, people usually wrap fractions in red paper and say 'Sui sui ping'an,' which means 'Congratulations and safety throughout the year'.
On the first day of Chinese New Year, girls who are married are considered not allowed to visit their parents' homes, because they are believed to bring bad luck and economic difficulties to the family.
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