Chinese New Year | Chinese New Year Traditional Beliefs

Chinese New Year Superstitions And Taboos

There are many superstitions and taboos associated with Chinese New Year :

• Children stay up late on the eve of Chinese New Year after the reunion dinner. The longer they stay up, the longer will their parents live.
• Bathing with pomela leaves and flowers on the eve of Chinese New Year gets rid of bad luck and ensures good health for the rest of the year.
• Doors and windows are kept open to allow the bad luck of old year to get out and to welcome the new year’s good luck. In the night, all lights in the house are switched on to frighten away spirits.
• All brooms are kept and no sweeping is allowed. This is to avoid sweeping good luck and wealth out of the house.
• Sweets are eaten to ensure everyone has a sweet and easy year ahead.
• Everyone wears only red or bright coloured clothes. It is believed that black or white clothes will bring bad luck for the new year.
• Refrain from saying anything bad or unlucky. Do not quarrel or use foul language. Talking about sickness and death are also considered inauspicious.
• Parents refrain from scolding and punishing their children and their misbehaviour are tolerated on new year’s day. It is believed that if they cry on the first day of new year, they will cry throughout the entire year.
• Avoid breaking anything, like bowls, cups, vases, etc., during Chinese New Year. Breaking any of the above is considered unlucky and is said to result in the break-up of fortune or family unity.  However, if something is broken accidentally, one must quickly say 'sui sui ping an', which literally means 'year after year will be safe and peaceful' at the scene. Some people even add the the following phrase ‘lo di kai hua’ to mean ‘landing on the ground and flowers blooming’ to signify auspiciousness. Avoid serving food in chipped crockery as well.
• Avoid cutting hair during the entire period of Chinese New Year.

Whatever happens on the first day of Chinese New Year reflects what will happen in the rest of the year.

Significance Of Chinese New Year Red Packets

Adults give children and unmarried relatives red packet with lucky money inside to signify good fortune. The amount of cash inside the red packet is normally an even number, because odd number is considered unlucky. The act of giving red packets brings good luck to the person who receives it, and also to the one who gives it out. What this means is that when you give more red packets, more good luck comes to you.

There is also an ancient belief that red packets are given to symbolize long life for the person who gives it. The lucky money inside the red packet is called ‘Ya Sui Qian’ in Chinese, which means ‘suppressing the age money’. As everyone grows a year older during Chinese New Year, the elder folks ‘borrow’ the young energy of children by giving them red packets in return.  The effect of such practice is believed to be stronger when one gives more red packets to children.

Link To This Page from your website or blog. Just copy and paste from this block:

<a href="http://www.dsexls.com/chinese-new-year-chinese-new-year-traditional-beliefs.html">Chinese New Year Traditional Beliefs</a>

Readers' Comments

Sponsored Links

Chinese New Year Best Buys !

Books On Chinese New Year            Chinese New Year Decorations            Chinese New Year Music

Recommended Books On Chinese New Year

Shopping For Chinese New Year Products - Easy & Convenient !

Shopping Mall At Your Finger-Tips  

What's  Hot ! In DSEXLS

Most Popular ! In Chinese New Year

More On Chinese New Year In DSEXLS

Introduction To Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year Celebrations Part 1
Chinese New Year Celebrations Part 2
Chinese New Year Traditional Beliefs
Chinese New Year Decorations, Plants And Flowers Part 1
Chinese New Year Decorations, Plants And Flowers Part 2
Chinese New Year Images