Chinese New Year is filled with traditions, symbolism, and long-standing beliefs that guide how families welcome a fresh start. Many people follow these taboos to avoid inviting misfortune and to set an auspicious tone for the year ahead.Below is a clear, structured guide to the most commonly observed Chinese New Year taboos, their meanings, and how people continue to interpret them today.
Historical & Cultural Context
Chinese New Year customs trace back thousands of years and blend folklore, superstition, linguistic symbolism, and cultural values. Many actions, words, and objects are believed to influence luck. Some taboos emerged from ancient lifestyles, while others reflect themes of respect, prosperity, and protection for the household.Understanding the roots of these practices makes it easier to appreciate why they continue to matter today, whether strictly observed or adapted for modern living.
Every culture has its own set of rules and dos & don'ts that help people. So, with the Spring festival around the corner, you must know about all the taboos related to this festival. Let's look at the 16 Chinese New Year taboos you should remember and inform others too.
Chinese New Year Taboos you Must Know
1. Stop Eating Porridge or Meat for Breakfast
One of the most common Chinese New Year taboos is not eating porridge or meat for breakfast. Porridge has usually been considered a poor person's meal and consuming it leads to a bad omen of poor finances.
Secondly, eating meat on the first day and in the morning is disrespectful to the Buddhist gods.
2. Not Visiting the Maternal Grandparents
The tradition for women to celebrate the New year involves not meeting their parents. A practiced taboo for the Lunar New Year is to not allow married women to visit their homes as it can bring the bad luck of economic hardship. They are encouraged to take their husbands and children to visit their parents on the 2nd day.
3. Don't Break Glass
By saying don't break glass, we mean don't break anything. Be it a plate, mirror, bowl, or vase, if it breaks, it can bring a wave of bad fortune, family breakup, or monetary loss.
Usually, when something is broken (hopefully accidentally), people cover it with red paper and murmur "sui sui ping’an", which means, 'all year round safe and sound'.
4. Do not Use Sharp Objects
One of the most traditional things you should not do on CNY is using sharp objects, such as knives, to give women a break.
However, it quickly also turned into one of the most famous superstitions for the CNY festival season. It is said that using sharp or pointy objects can lead to a year filled with quarrels and deplete your financial resources.
5. Avoid Medicines
Yes, this may seem a bit weird, but it is one of the many Chinese New Year taboos (and the funniest too). While popping vitamins and other such medicines might be a normal thing to do, on the CNY, you should avoid it at all costs in fear of having a sickly year ahead. Nevertheless, in case of any emergency or severe health problems, medicine should come first.
6. No New Year Blessings to People still in Bed
One of the most fun yet reasonable things you should not do on CNY is showering your blessings on someone still in bed. You have to wait for them to get out of bed and become fresh to give all your wishes. Now, that seems like something you can take advantage of and sleep till late.
7. Avoid using Negative Words
You don't need a list of taboos for the Lunar New Year to tell you to avoid using negative words. Moreover, the start of a year should definitely not have any negative energy or words as it can jinx the year. Replace harsh words like death, ghosts, poverty, and sickness with euphemisms.
8. Stop Sweeping the Floor
On a regular day, if you tell your mom not to sweep the house, she will shoo you away but not on Chinese New Year. Amongst the many superstitions for the CNY festival season, sweeping or taking out the garbage on this day is considered very lucky. It is said, you can take all the good luck and wishes out of the home.
9. Avoid Hair wash & Haircuts
Yes, this sounds very absurd. The reason for this Chinese New Year taboo is that the pronunciation of hair (发, fa) in Mandarin is the same as that of fa in facai (发财). Thus, meaning to become wealthy. So, washing or cutting hair on the day of the New Year is equivalent to washing your fortunes away.
10. Put a Halt to Needlework
Put a cross on stitching or any other needlework under the list of things you should not do on CNY. The reason is simple, this work was and is usually done by the women of the house who believed doing such work would lead to a very hard year.
11. Stay away from Hospitals
For most folk, visiting a hospital is never a pleasant feeling, but altruists love it. Whether you are one or not, you should avoid going to the hospital (only for emergencies) as part of the taboos for the Lunar New Year, as it can put your life in danger with unwanted illnesses.
12. Never Give Lucky Money in Odd Amounts
One of the most followed Chinese superstitions for the CNY festival season is to give money only in even numbers and never in odd. They believe that even numbers double the fortune.
13. No Crying Children
Crying children on the festival day are a call to bad luck. Thus, parents and relatives do their best to make sure no young kid cries as it is a serious Chinese New Year taboo.
14. Avoid Wearing White and Black
The colours white and black in attires during festivals is one of the most important things you should not do on CNY. They are usually worn for funerals, thus casting a dull light on a lovely celebration.
15. Throw Away Damaged Clothes
Since it is the new year, it makes sense to adorn the best attire. Children and adults are encouraged not to wear damaged, worn out or torn clothes and follow this superstition for the CNY festival season religiously.
16. Do not Lend or Borrow Money
The last taboos for the Lunar New Year are to neither borrow nor lend any money to someone. All outstanding debts should be paid on the eve, as doing it on the d-day can bring lots of bad luck.
Modern Context & Alternatives
Even though these taboos come from tradition, many families today take a practical, balanced approach:
Health comes first: Medicines and emergencies override superstition.
Households prepare in advance: Haircuts, cleaning, and sewing are completed before New Year’s Day.
Symbolism matters more than strict rules: Many follow taboos lightly to honour tradition without stress.
Intent is powerful: a joyful attitude often means more than perfect adherence.
Quick Takeaway Checklist
Do’s
Clean the house before New Year’s Day
Wear new, bright-coloured clothing
Use positive words and greetings
Prepare meals in advance
Visit family after everyone is up and ready
Give even-numbered ang baos
Don’ts
Don’t sweep the floor on the first day
Don’t wash or cut your hair
Don’t break objects
Don’t use sharp tools unnecessarily
Don’t say negative words
Don’t wear black or white
Don’t lend or borrow money
Don’t let children cry if possible
Conclusion
Chinese New Year taboos reflect cultural values, symbolism, and the desire to welcome good fortune. Whether strictly observed or adapted for modern life, these traditions encourage positivity, mindfulness, and respect for heritage. Understanding them helps you appreciate the celebrations more deeply and begin the year with intention, harmony, and renewed optimism.
FAQs
Q1. Why are Chinese New Year taboos important?
Chinese New Year taboos preserve cultural beliefs about luck, harmony, and prosperity. They help families welcome the year positively, avoid symbolic misfortune, and stay connected to generations-old traditions still valued today.
Q2. What should you avoid doing on the first day of Chinese New Year?
Avoid sweeping, cleaning, using sharp tools, washing hair, breaking objects, saying negative words, or wearing black or white. These actions are believed to drive away luck or invite misfortune.
Q3. Can you clean the house during Chinese New Year?
Cleaning is avoided on New Year’s Day because it symbolizes sweeping away good luck. Most families complete all cleaning beforehand and resume normal chores only after the first day ends.
Q4. Is it taboo to wear black or white during Chinese New Year?
Yes, wearing black or white is typically avoided as these colours are linked to mourning. People prefer bright, vibrant shades to welcome joy, prosperity, and good fortune for the year ahead.
Q5. Are Chinese New Year taboos still followed in modern Singapore?
Yes, but often in a flexible way. Many households follow traditions symbolically while balancing practicality. Families honour cultural values yet adapt taboos to fit contemporary lifestyles and everyday realities.
Gurnika Talwar is FNP’s marketing and creative content writer and has been with the firm since 2020. She is based in Delhi, India and has been in this field for 2+ years.
She started her journey as a freshman but since then has created content on several mediums. With blogging on gift ideas, food, gardening tips and whatnot as her primary goal, she has also curated content for social media and brand films. As a storyteller, she creates original, genuine, and relatable content to connect with the mass. Besides work, you’ll find her chit-chatting about movies or making sarcastic jokes.
One of the most common Chinese New Year taboos is not eating porridge or meat for breakfast. Porridge has usually been considered a poor person's meal and consuming it leads to a bad omen of poor finances.
Secondly, eating meat on the first day and in the morning is disrespectful to the Buddhist gods.
The tradition for women to celebrate the New year involves not meeting their parents. A practiced taboo for the Lunar New Year is to not allow married women to visit their homes as it can bring the bad luck of economic hardship. They are encouraged to take their husbands and children to visit their parents on the 2nd day.
By saying don't break glass, we mean don't break anything. Be it a plate, mirror, bowl, or vase, if it breaks, it can bring a wave of bad fortune, family breakup, or monetary loss.
Usually, when something is broken (hopefully accidentally), people cover it with red paper and murmur "sui sui ping’an", which means, 'all year round safe and sound'.
One of the most traditional things you should not do on CNY is using sharp objects, such as knives, to give women a break.
However, it quickly also turned into one of the most famous superstitions for the CNY festival season. It is said that using sharp or pointy objects can lead to a year filled with quarrels and deplete your financial resources.
Yes, this may seem a bit weird, but it is one of the many Chinese New Year taboos (and the funniest too). While popping vitamins and other such medicines might be a normal thing to do, on the CNY, you should avoid it at all costs in fear of having a sickly year ahead. Nevertheless, in case of any emergency or severe health problems, medicine should come first.
One of the most fun yet reasonable things you should not do on CNY is showering your blessings on someone still in bed. You have to wait for them to get out of bed and become fresh to give all your wishes. Now, that seems like something you can take advantage of and sleep till late.
You don't need a list of taboos for the Lunar New Year to tell you to avoid using negative words. Moreover, the start of a year should definitely not have any negative energy or words as it can jinx the year. Replace harsh words like death, ghosts, poverty, and sickness with euphemisms.
On a regular day, if you tell your mom not to sweep the house, she will shoo you away but not on Chinese New Year. Amongst the many superstitions for the CNY festival season, sweeping or taking out the garbage on this day is considered very lucky. It is said, you can take all the good luck and wishes out of the home.
Yes, this sounds very absurd. The reason for this Chinese New Year taboo is that the pronunciation of hair (发, fa) in Mandarin is the same as that of fa in facai (发财). Thus, meaning to become wealthy. So, washing or cutting hair on the day of the New Year is equivalent to washing your fortunes away.
Put a cross on stitching or any other needlework under the list of things you should not do on CNY. The reason is simple, this work was and is usually done by the women of the house who believed doing such work would lead to a very hard year.
For most folk, visiting a hospital is never a pleasant feeling, but altruists love it. Whether you are one or not, you should avoid going to the hospital (only for emergencies) as part of the taboos for the Lunar New Year, as it can put your life in danger with unwanted illnesses.
One of the most followed Chinese superstitions for the CNY festival season is to give money only in even numbers and never in odd. They believe that even numbers double the fortune.
Crying children on the festival day are a call to bad luck. Thus, parents and relatives do their best to make sure no young kid cries as it is a serious Chinese New Year taboo.
The colours white and black in attires during festivals is one of the most important things you should not do on CNY. They are usually worn for funerals, thus casting a dull light on a lovely celebration.
Since it is the new year, it makes sense to adorn the best attire. Children and adults are encouraged not to wear damaged, worn out or torn clothes and follow this superstition for the CNY festival season religiously.
The last taboos for the Lunar New Year are to neither borrow nor lend any money to someone. All outstanding debts should be paid on the eve, as doing it on the d-day can bring lots of bad luck.
