What should you not do on Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions: 18 Things You Should Not Do
  • Avoid taking medicine. ...
  • Don't sweep or take out garbage. ...
  • No unlucky words. ...
  • Don't eat porridge and meat for breakfast. ...
  • Avoid washing hair and getting a haircut. ...
  • Don't wash clothes. ...
  • Needlework should not be done. ...
  • Don't use scissors or knives.
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Do and don'ts during Chinese New Year?

DON'T wash or cut your hair

On the first day of Chinese New Year, you must not wash or cut your hair. In Cantonese, hair is pronounced as faat (髮), which is the same as the word for “getting rich” (發). If you wash your hair, it means that you're washing your own fortune away for the coming 364 days.
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Can you shower on Chinese New Year?

Yes, that's right, one does not simply wash their hair or take a shower on the day of Chinese New Year as cleaning yourself on the day is seen as washing away good fortune. Though a thorough scrub of the hair and body is highly encouraged prior in order to rinse off any bad luck.
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Which of the following is considered bad luck on Chinese New Year's day?

Talking about death is inappropriate for the first few days of Chinese New Year, as it is considered inauspicious. Buying (or reading) books is bad luck because the character for "book" (書/书) is a homonym to the character for "lose" (輸/输).
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What color should you not wear on Chinese New Year?

Two colors within Chinese culture, however, should be avoided: black and white, which are traditionally colors worn in times of mourning.
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What you SHOULD NOT DO on Chinese New Year



Is it bad luck to shower on new year's day?

If for any reason a gift is to be given this day, leave it in a car or out building New Year's Eve. — Some cultures believe one should not wash his or her hair on New Year's Day because it will wash away the good fortune of that person.
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Is it bad luck to clean on new year's day?

According to folklore, if you wash clothes on New Year's Day, you'll be “washing for the dead” or washing a loved one away -- meaning someone in your household will die in the coming year. Get your laundry wash, dried, folded and put away by New Year's Eve.
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What brings good luck on Chinese New Year?

Oranges and Other Citrus

Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year gifts because they're believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for “orange” and “tangerine” closely resemble the words for “luck” and “wealth.” The gold color of these fruits also symbolizes prosperity.
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Can I mop the floor during Chinese New Year?

Spring Cleaning

House cleaning on the Chinese New Year's Day is disliked and considered a top Chinese New Year superstitions. Ideally, you've cleaned the house before the very first day of the Chinese or Lunar New Year. Sweep away the dirt, mop the floor, and laundry till you have enough time.
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Can I wash dishes on new year's day?

1. Do not wash clothes or dishes on New Year's Day as you'll be washing for the dead in the new year.
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Can you mop on new year's day?

As in, don't wash on New Year's Day, don't scrub, and whatever you do, don't sweep! It turns out cleaning house on New Year's Day, the day before, or even between Christmas and New Year's can bring you bad luck.
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Can you eat chicken on Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year food traditions are hugely symbolic. Traditions include serving two whole fish and saving one for leftovers to represent surplus in the new year, serving a whole chicken to represent wholeness and prosperity, and serving items like spring rolls, which resemble gold bars and symbolize wealth.
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Is it bad luck to cut your hair on New Years?

Leave your hair as it is on the first day of the New Year. The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosper. This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces your chances for prosperity and good fortune in the year.
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Can I clean on Chinese New Year Eve?

If you have a big Lunar New Year's Eve family dinner, be sure to clean up before the clock strikes midnight. Good luck is believed to begin when the clock strikes 12, so you want to be sure not to wipe, sweep, or wash away any of that luck.
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Can I do laundry on New Years Eve?

Don't wash those clothes

Get your laundry wash, dried, folded and put away by New Year's Eve.
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Should you wash your hair on Chinese New Year?

Wash or cut your hair

Leave your hair as it is on the first day of the New Year. The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosper. This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces chances of prosperity in the year ahead.
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Why sweeping and mopping should not be done at night?

By sweeping the house during the four hours at night, negativity spreads in the house and Maa Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, becomes angry, which affects the movement of money in the house.
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When should you clean your house for Chinese New Year?

Jan.

Beginning on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month Chinese people carry out a thorough 'winter-cleaning' of their houses. This is called "sweeping away the dust", and represents a wish to put away old things, bid farewell to the old year, and welcome in the Lunar New Year.
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What do you wear on Chinese New Year?

#1: Traditional Dress Is a Red Cheongsam

Style Notes: The traditional way to dress for Chinese New Year is to wear a qipao or a cheongsam frock. Leaf advised that traditionally, you would wear this in red. However, right now, there are many designers who have been influenced by this style.
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What gifts are considered taboo?

So as you make your way through your gift list, keep these gifting taboos in mind.
  • Colors. ...
  • Knives/scissors. ...
  • Money. ...
  • Flowers/plants. ...
  • China. ...
  • Photos. ...
  • Although there are plenty of different cultural gifting taboos, the importance assigned to it is not like they used to be.
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What are the five Chinese blessings?

Chinese culture: five blessings, also known as the "Five Happiness" or "Five Good Fortunes", which refer to longevity, wealth, health and composure, love of virtue, and the desire to die a natural death in old age (or timely death).
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What should you not eat on New Year's day?

What NOT To Eat On New Year's Day
  • Poultry & Winged Fowl. You should avoid eating anything with wings on New Year's Day because it is believed your good luck will “fly away” with your meal. ...
  • Lobster, Shrimp & Crab. ...
  • Bottom-Feeding Fish. ...
  • White-Colored Foods. ...
  • Short Noodles. ...
  • Keep Leftovers. ...
  • Don't Pass the Knife.
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What do you cook on New Years day?

According to popular folklore, if these foods are eaten on New Year's Day, they guarantee good luck throughout the year. Peas or beans are said to symbolize coins or wealth. Choose traditional black-eyed peas, lentils, or beans to make a dish seasoned with pork, ham or sausage.
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What foods bring luck in the new year?

Certain foods, like noodles, cabbage, and lentils, symbolize good fortune in the new year. After downing plenty of bubbly and sweet treats on New Year's Eve, start 2022 off right with these New Year's good-luck foods that all promise wealth, prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
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What does it mean when you kiss someone at midnight on New Years?

“If you're awake at midnight on New Year's Eve and if you're with other people, kisses will likely be exchanged.” There is no definite explanation of why the kiss was done, but McCrossen said it most likely was meant to wish good luck going into the next year.
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