Chinese New Year Superstitions

There are certain customs and superstitions that many Chinese adhere to during the New Year festival. Will and Guy have researched their top twenty Chinese superstitions for the New Year.  These superstitions may well help westerners to better understand their oriental brothers.

1. Exploding firecrackers on Chinese New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new.
2. On the stroke of midnight, every door and window in the house has to be opened to allow the old year to go out is one superstition.
3. Many people also abstain from eating meat on the first day of Chinese New Year festival because it is believed that this will ensure a long and happy life.
4. Some may eat a whole fish which represents togetherness and abundance, or a chicken with its head and feet intact, which symbolizes prosperity.
5. Any noodles in your bowl should be left uncut, as a sign of long life.
6. Plants and flowers also play a significant role in symbolizing rebirth and new growth. A home is thought to be lucky if a plant blooms on New Year's Day, as this foretells the start of a prosperous year.
7. Another Chinese superstition is that the entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day.
8. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away.  Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.
9. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept.  Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of theroom, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon.
10. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family members away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow.  All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.
11. All debts had to be paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year.
12. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words.  Negative terms and the number 4, sounding like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo.
13. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning.
14. If you cry on New Year's Day, you will cry all through the year.  Therefore, children are tolerated and are not chastised less they cry.
15. On New Year's Day, one should not wash hair because it would mean that good luck for the New Year could be washed away.
16. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion.  Red is considered a bright, happy colour, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future.  It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year.
17. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune.
18. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year.  It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-coloured birds or swallows.
19. It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.
20. Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.