Chinese New Year Taboos: The Ultimate Guide to What Not to Do

Written by Natalia | Updated December 29,2025

Chinese New Year has long been the one most important festival in China and all Chinese communities around the world. And at the core of such a vital celebration, you’ll find things far more than just lanterns, fireworks, and dumplings. To fill this time with as much joy as possible, there are many dos and don’ts people need to follow, and indeed, they have been passed down through thousands of years. These Chinese New Year taboos and superstitions are deeply rooted in the belief that actions taken during the Spring Festival can leave a huge influence on your life in the coming year.

For those who want to know more about the taboos of Chinese New Years, we prepared this guide for you. We’ll take you to explore the essential things that you should not do on New Year’s Day and during the festival period. No matter if you want to celebrate it on a China tour or just at home, understanding these customs will definitely be helpful and hopefully bring you plenty of good fortune.

Content Preview

• Why Superstitions and Taboos Matter During Lunar New Year
• How Superstitions Are Believed to Affect Luck, Wealth, and Happiness
• Chinese New Year Taboos About Appearance and Gifts
• Food and Eating Superstitions
• Absolute Do’s and Don’ts on Chinese New Year and Festival Period
• A Timeline of Taboo Practices
• Travel Tips: Chinese New Year Taboos for Travelers
• FAQs About Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions
• Travel with China Xian Tour for an In-depth Exploration of Chinese Culture

Why Superstitions and Taboos Matter During Lunar New Year

The Cultural Meaning of “Spring Festival Taboos”

1. Setting the tone for the whole year

Chinese people believe that the first few days of the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival/Chinese New Year) can leave a powerful influence on their lives. Things done (or said) during this time are thought to set the tone for their fortune trends in the rest of the year. So that in this context, taboos are serving more like some preventative measures: avoiding bad omens when the year has just begun is a way to invite good omens.

2. Preserving harmony, family, and social order

Many taboos are about requiring people to show respect to others, especially to elders, ancestors, gods, and spirits. For example, you should avoid saying negative words and try to refrain from crying or arguing. In all senses, such behaviors can indeed help maintain a positive, harmonious atmosphere.

3. Religious / spiritual roots

Some taboos are deeply tied back to the worship of deities, gods, or spirits (e.g., Water God, Kitchen God), and this belief has been passed down through a long passage of time. Some taboos are also linked to rituals that are meant to repel evil spirits or bad omens: staying up on New Year’s Eve, firecrackers, red decorations, etc. These customs help people feel protected.

How Superstitions Are Believed to Affect Luck, Wealth, and Happiness

1. Luck

First of all, it is said that people should avoid negative words, broken items, unlucky sayings, etc. These are recognized as some of the most common and probably the most likely taboos that people will make.

Besides, symbolic behaviors like staying up at midnight (Shousui) or letting the house be lit or decorated are thought to bring protection for people, which can scare off evil spirits (e.g., the monster Nian) and so increase prospects for a lucky year.

2. Wealth

Certain acts symbolize abundance: e.g., it is not recommended to clean your house (sweeping/throwing garbage) on New Year’s Day, since doing so can be interpreted as sweeping away good luck or money that has just arrived. So that Chinese people would normally do a spring-cleaning before the new year.

Eating auspicious foods: fish (fish in Chinese is 鱼 yú, which shares the same pronunciation as 余 yú, which means “surplus” or “abundance”), rice cakes, tangerines, etc. These foods are widely consumed because of the meanings attached: to invite surplus, prosperity, and continuing growth.

3. Happiness and harmony

The avoidance of disputes, arguing, crying, and negative words is also believed to set a harmonious tone for this new year. If the start can be peaceful, then happiness in your relationships, mood, and family life will follow.

Taboos are usually set around giving proper gifts, respecting elders, and behaving with decorum. They are, again, tied to respect and social harmony, which are considered foundational for one to get happiness.

Further Reading: Chinese New Year Calendar 2026: Key Dates, Customs, and FAQs

Chinese New Year Taboos About Appearance and Gifts

1. No Haircuts During Lunar New Year

Getting a haircut on Chinese New Year or during the first month of the lunar calendar is considered highly unlucky. In Chinese, the word for “hair” (发, fà) has the same pronunciation as “prosperity.” So that cutting hair during this festive time symbolically means “cutting away wealth and good fortune.” So that many families would often schedule their haircuts before New Year’s Eve to avoid any possibility of losing prosperity in the coming year.

2. Don’t Shave on New Year’s Day

Many people would wonder, “Can I shave on New Year’s Day?” Traditionally, the answer is no. Shaving is seen as removing part of yourself (just like hair), which could somehow weaken your energy and luck for the year ahead. As a result, for many people, shaving facial or body hair should also be avoided on the first day of the Chinese New Year.

3. Don’t Wash Your Hair or Shower

On the first day of the Spring Festival, washing hair or taking a shower is also something you shouldn’t do, as “wash” also means ”sweep away” or “remove.” Doing so might symbolically wash away the good things that have just fallen on you on the first day of the new year.

4. What Colors Not to Wear on Chinese New Year

Clothing for New Year is also something that people would particularly take care of, and even colors can carry strong symbolic meaning during these days. Don’t wear black on Chinese New Year, as black and even dark blue are linked with mourning (it’s totally fine to wear them in daily life). Similarly, white is also a color that is pervasively used at funerals, and for some people, they would also avoid it during Chinese New Year celebrations.

5. Don’t Wear Damaged Clothes

Wearing old, torn, or damaged clothes during the Spring Festival is a sign of poverty and misfortune. Since the New Year represents a fresh start, basically everyone would try to get some brand-new outfits to welcome this important day. And new clothes are often in red or bright-colored, since they are regarded as the most auspicious colors with the power to bring people good luck and happiness.

6. Chinese New Year “Don’t Give” Gift Rules

Gift-giving is common during the Spring Festival, but there are also some “don’t give” rules you need to pay attention to. Certain items are taboo because of their negative symbolism:

• Clocks: In Chinese, sending a clock is 送钟 (sòng zhōng). And this term sounds exactly like attending a funeral and seeing someone to “the end.”
• Handkerchiefs: Symbolically associated with saying goodbye or ending a relationship.
• Sharp Objects (knives, scissors): Symbolize cutting ties and severing relationships.
• Shoes: In some dialects, “shoes” (鞋 xié) sounds like “evil” (邪 xié).
• Umbrellas: The word (伞 sǎn) sounds like “to separate.”

Chinese would also carefully consider the meanings of numbers when giving gifts. Try to avoid the number 4, which sounds like “death” in Chinese. Instead, numbers like 6 and 8 are considered the most auspicious, which smooth progress and wealth.

Further Readings: Best Chinese New Year Gifts: 30+ Gift Ideas for All Ages

Food and Eating Superstitions

What Not to Eat on Chinese New Year

Food plays a central role in Spring Festival celebrations, but there are also strict rules about what not to eat on Chinese New Year. Eating certain foods is thought to bring misfortune or bad luck in the year ahead. Some examples include:

• Porridge: Associated with poverty, since porridge was historically a poor man’s meal. Starting the year with porridge suggests hardship.
• Broken noodles or rice: Noodles symbolize long life, so cutting or breaking them may symbolize cutting life short. Similarly, rice should not be spilled or wasted.
• Oddly prepared meals:Overcooked, burnt, or unfinished dishes suggest carelessness and waste, which may harm the family’s fortune.

Lucky Foods You Should Eat

When celebrating Chinese New Year, having a family reunion and sharing a nice dinner is definitely something that most families would do. And since it’s not just a normal dinner but likely the most important dinner in a year, people would include many of the traditionally lucky foods in this meal.

• Dumplings (饺子 jiǎozi): This is one of the most famous traditional Chinese foods, but some may not know that the shape of the dumpling is actually inspired by the shape of ancient Chinese ingots. This dish is always believed to bring people wealth and fortune.
• Fish (鱼 yú): The word “fish” in Chinese is 鱼 yú, which shares the same pronunciation as 余 yú, which means ”surplus” and abundance. Usually, every family meal would include a dish serving a whole fish, with the head and tail intact, and this represents people’s willingness of completeness and prosperity from beginning to end.
• Glutinous rice cakes (年糕 niángāo): A sweet sticky treat symbolizing progress and promotion year after year. The term “niángāo” literally sounds like “higher every year” in Chinese.
• Oranges and tangerines: These fruits are popular Chinese New Year treats, not only because the new year comes in the season for oranges, but also because of their bright colors and Chinese pronunciations, which sound exactly like “wealth” and “auspicious” (橙 chéng / 吉 jí).

Related reading: Lucky Fruits and Flowers for Chinese New Year

Absolute Do’s and Don’ts on Chinese New Year and Festival Period

Avoid Crying, Arguing, and Using Bad Language

Tears, fights, or curses are all considered unlucky on New Year’s Day. Crying suggests sadness and misfortune for the year ahead, while quarrels and bad language can invite conflict into your daily life.

Never Break Things: It Symbolizes Shattering Your Fortune

One of the strictest Chinese New Year taboos is to try not to break anything. In Chinese culture, broken objects always carry a sense of shattered luck or discord in relationships. However, if an accident happens, people would quickly say some auspicious phrases like “suì suì píng ān” to ward off bad fortune. (岁岁平安, “peace year after year”). The character 岁 means “year,” and it shares the same pronunciation with 碎, which means “broken.”

Don’t Take Medicine or Visit the Hospital (If You Can Avoid It)

In some Chinese New Year superstitions, taking medicine or visiting a hospital on the first day may bring illness for the entire year. Unless absolutely necessary, some families would avoid medical treatment during the early days of the festival.

Avoid Sweeping, Cleaning, Doing Laundry, and Taking Out the Trash

Housework is linked to actions like “sweep” or “wash,” and on this special day, wealth and blessings are also considered as something that would probably be “swept away.” So that many families would arrange their big cleaning before New Year’s Eve.

Don’t Do Needlework and Avoid Scissors or Knives

Sharp objects are seen as tools that can “cut” relationships and luck. Using scissors, knives, or needles during the first days of Lunar New Year may cut your fortune and then bring disputes.

A Married Daughter Can’t Visit Her Parents on the First Day

Not widely accepted now, but still in some regions, people believe that a married woman should not visit her parents’ home on the very first day. So that for women in these regions, they usually return on the second day of Lunar New Year.

Don’t Lend and Borrow Money

Financial dealings are highly sensitive during the New Year, when all of your behavior can get a symbolic meaning. Lending money on the first day can mean your money may flow out all year, while borrowing suggests hardship ahead.

Give an Even Amount of Money in a Red Envelope

In China, there is a saying, “Good things come in pairs”. So it is an unwritten rule that the amount of money in the red envelope should be in even numbers, such as 200, 600. But 4 should be avoided, because it pronounces similar to “death” in Chinese.

Avoid Certain Gifts with Bad Meanings

The first type of gift that is not recommended is the gifts whose homophonic sounds are ominous. For example, sending the bell sounds like “seeing someone off at the end”; the peer and umbrella sound like separation, and shoes sound like devil. The second type is things that are related to funerals, such as yellow and white chrysanthemums. Besides, a wallet symbolizes giving away your own money to others and a pillow symbolizes that leisure days will be fewer. There are many implied meanings of different gifts, it is better to search for them before you prepare the gifts.

A Timeline of Taboo Practices

Travel Tips: Chinese New Year Taboos for Travelers

Cultural Taboos During Spring Festival for Travelers

• Avoid loud quarrels, arguments, or negative words during this time.
• Breaking dishes, using sharp tools, or wearing black/white (funeral colors) is considered inauspicious.
• Don’t givegifts like clocks, pears (Lí sounds the same as 离 “leave” in Chinese), or sharp objects, which have some rather negative symbolic meanings.
• Avoid visiting someone empty-handed. At least bring some fruits, tea, or small festive gifts.

What to Expect If Traveling to China During Chinese New Year

• Public transport will be extremely crowded during “Chunyun”(Spring Festival travel rush).
• Many shops, restaurants, and offices would close in the first few days of Lunar New Year.
• Tryavoid doing things that locals would see as unlucky (borrowing money, sweeping on New Year’s Day, etc.). By not doing these, you are also showing respect.

Simple Traditions and Taboos to Follow for Good Luck

• Wear new red clothing (symbol of prosperity).
• Offer Chinese New Year greetings like “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Mandarin) or “Gong Hei Fat Choy” (Cantonese).
• Feel free to join temple fairs or family reunion dinners if invited, but follow etiquette (eat after elders or the host of the dinner take their first bite, and don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice).
• Follow Chinese New Year customs such as exchanging red envelopes (hongbao) instead of giving cash by hand.
• Respect traditions like avoiding unlucky words.

FAQs About Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions

My family told me not to take medicine. What if I’m sick?

Traditionally, people would avoid taking medicine on the first day of Chinese New Year. But health always comes first. If you are genuinely unwell, don’t hesitate to go to hospitals. Nowadays people all understand that medical needs override superstition.

What happens if I accidentally break a plate?

If it happens, people often say auspicious words like “Sui sui ping’an” (岁岁平安, meaning peace year after year) as a way to turn bad luck into good fortune.

Why is it bad luck to eat porridge for New Year breakfast?

In the past, porridge was considered a “poor man’s food.” So that eating it on New Year’s morning would sometimes be thought to invite poverty. Nowadays, some people still prefer to skip porridge on the first day but eat it normally after the holiday.

Is it really bad luck to wash my hair on Chinese New Year’s Day?

Yes. This behavior is considered as “washing away” your fortune. Most people would do this before New Year’s Eve.

I heard you shouldn’t pay back debts on New Year’s. Is that right?

Correct. Settling debts before the festival is more encouraged. Paying money out on the first few days of Lunar New Year is thought to bring financial loss throughout the year. Similarly, borrowing or lending money is also considered unlucky.

Can you give gifts during Chinese New Year?

Yes, but with care. For children and unmarried younger relatives, the most common gift is a red envelope (hongbao) filled with lucky money. Remember to avoid the taboo gifts that were mentioned above.

Travel with China Xian Tour for an In-depth Exploration of Chinese Culture

Celebrating the Spring Festival with locals is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in Chinese culture. However, with so many highlights and amazing attractions waiting for you to explore, it could be a little overwhelming to plan a tour by yourself. And that’s why we recommend you to travel with China Xian Tour.

With the help of our local travel experts, you’ll get a perfect journey which is made completely based on your own preference, and we’ll also provide you with private transfers and professional guides. From start to finish, we’ll take care of all the preparation for you so that in the end, all you need to do is enjoy your best time in China.