What to Do – and Not to Do – During Chinese New Year Celebrations

You may think the New Year celebrations are over, but in fact, it’s only just beginning. Soon, communities all over the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year!
As with many other facets of Chinese culture, Chinese New Year has an interesting legend behind it. It begins with the monster Nian, who is described in the story as having a lion's head and a bull's body. Its name, Nian, translates to the word “year.” Accordingly, Nian is believed to terrorize Chinese villages every New Year’s Eve. Fortunately, the monster has a handful of weaknesses: lights, loud noises, and the color red. So, on New Year’s Eve, villagers anticipate Nian and ward him off by wearing red and lighting firecrackers.
While the legend may seem antiquated, its belief has influenced a huge part of how people celebrate the Lunar New Year. Below are some other ways that Chinese families celebrate this important holiday:
DO: Wear Red

Chinese people love the color red! They have it on everything: from the famous hong bao (red envelope with money) to those iconic dragon dance costumes. Certain foods are even dyed red for the new year.
This upcoming holiday, consider shopping for new red clothes to wear on the day; some aunties might even encourage red shoes, or red nails as the color is thought to ward off bad luck and is a symbol of joy and happiness.
DO: Keep Your Lights On

During New Year's Eve, you may notice that most houses stay lit up all night. This comes from the belief that keeping your lights on will “scare away” ghosts or misfortune. Its reason is somewhat similar to why people light fireworks: to ward off any bad luck and bring light to the sky.
DO: Stay Up

Some people believe that staying up all night on New Year's Eve brings about longevity to one’s parents. The longer you stay up, the longer they will live (so says tradition). This belief translates to filial piety, which we know is an important value in Chinese culture. As such, families will usually spend the night together to ring in the New Year until the wee hours of the morning.
DON’T: Sweep the Floor

During Chinese New Year, it’s considered ill luck to sweep the floor. That doesn’t mean families don’t like to keep a tidy house, but the action itself represents “sweeping away” wealth or good fortune. As such, families will usually clean the house in advance to avoid having to clean during the holiday.
DON’T: Cut Your Hair

In China, the word “hair” (fa) has a similar pronunciation to the word “become wealthy” (fa cai). As such, cutting hair during the New Year is considered bad luck. Some people believe it is like cutting away fortune, while others think it represents cutting away at the longevity of life.
Either way, you’ll often find people hitting the salons and barbershops a week or two before Chinese New Year so they can welcome in the new year with a fresh new ‘do.
DON’T: Wear Dark Colors

Dark colors such as black, gray, or navy blue must be avoided at all costs throughout the holiday. These colors represent death and ill omen in the same way that red represents luck and happiness. In fact, wearing dark colors to a family reunion is likely to offend more traditional relatives.
Instead, stick to red! Pink, yellow, and orange are also acceptable (though less preferred) colors.
DON’T: Give Pears as a Gift

Chinese families love fruits! A look into one’s refrigerator will reveal a treasure trove of apples, mandarins, lychees, and more. There is one fruit, however, that’s considered taboo when given as a gift, and that is pears. The Chinese word for pears, li, sounds similar to the Chinese word for “parting” and is therefore considered bad luck when given as a gift. This doesn’t just apply to Chinese New Year too, avoid giving pears as a gift in general.
DON’T: Lend or Borrow Money

For many Chinese, it’s important to welcome the New Year debt-free! Start the year off with a clean slate by paying back your loans; similarly, avoid lending money to people in the days leading up to the New Year. Entering the year with debt is believed to lead to money struggles in the coming months.
DON’T: Eat Porridge for Breakfast

Chinese New Year should be celebrated with special treats! On this day, you’ll find tables filled with delightful goodies such as dim sum, fish, noodles, and shrimp. One thing you won’t find? The traditional breakfast of porridge.
While porridge is usually a beloved dish, it is avoided during Chinese New Year as it is believed to be a “poor man’s meal.” Its simplicity implies that one begins the New Year with little means. The worry is that this kind of luck will continue throughout the year. So instead, celebrate the New Year with all the decadent goodies we know you love!
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