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Besides the flavorful dishes and cheery decorations, there’s so much more to learn about the Chinese New Year festivities.
Here are some of the curious superstitions the Chinese practice for the Lunar New Year:
No haircuts
Make sure to set your haircut appointments before the Chinese New Year. Cutting your hair is said to be like snipping away your good fortune. The Chinese word for hair has a similar character in facai (发财), which means “to become wealthy”.
No black and white clothing
Who doesn’t love a monochromatic outfit in black or white, right? Too bad you can’t wear these colors, as they are said to be unlucky for the new year. Embrace bold colors, especially fiery red!
Give out pairs of mandarin oranges and ang bao
Wish each other good luck by exchanging a pair of mandarin oranges and ang bao, a red envelope with an even amount of money. Mandarin oranges are also said to bring riches into your home, as the Chinese word for mandarin (kam) sounds similar to gold.
No sweeping the floor or taking out the trash
Make sure you’re done with all household chores before the Chinese New Year! Sweeping the floor is said to be equivalent to sweeping away good fortune. So is taking out the trash like throwing away good luck from your home.
Decorate with mystic knots
Adorn your home with this good luck charm that symbolizes long life full of good fortune. The mystic knot is made up of 6 infinity knots and can be combined with other lucky items like Chinese coins.
Be careful with your words
The Chinese believe that what you do on the first day of the year sets the tone for the rest. The same applies with unlucky words. Avoid negative words like “death” or foul language. This also includes activities like watching horror movies. We suggest exchanging wishes of good health and fortune, instead.
Avoid taking medicine
Similarly, the Chinese believe that one should avoid scheduling a surgery, or even visiting the doctor during the new year so that you won’t be sick for the whole year.
Leave all doors and windows open
Lastly, let the good fortune and prosperity enter your home by opening all your doors and windows.
We wish you good luck and prosperity this Chinese New Year 2020!
