10 Things You Shouldn't Do on Lunar New Year That Will Bring Bad Luck

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Lunar New Year is coming soon, and many people are preparing to celebrate this special festival. Families clean their homes, share meals, give red envelopes, and decorate with lucky colors. These traditions are believed to bring happiness and fortune. However, there are also things you shouldn't do on Lunar New Year because many people believe these actions can bring bad luck for the whole year.

To help you celebrate wisely, here are some important things you shouldn't do on Lunar New Year that many families still follow today.

Sweeping the floor or taking out rubbish on Lunar New Year is believed to sweep away your good luck and wealth. Many families clean their homes before the festival instead. If cleaning is necessary, people sweep inward and keep the trash inside until later days to protect their fortune.

Eating porridge for breakfast on the first day is seen as a bad sign. In the past, porridge was food for poor families. Because of this meaning, eating it during the new year may symbolize poverty and financial struggle in the coming year.

Washing your hair or getting a haircut is avoided because it is believed to wash or cut away your fortune. The word for hair sounds like the word for wealth in Chinese. Some traditions also believe cutting hair during this time may bring misfortune to relatives, so many people wait until after the holiday.

People avoid saying negative words like death, sickness, or poverty during Lunar New Year. Harsh language and curse words are also avoided. Speaking positively is believed to invite good luck, while negative words may bring misfortune or sadness throughout the year.

Doing laundry on the first days of Lunar New Year is believed to wash away wealth and good fortune. Some traditions also say these days celebrate the Water God’s birthday. Because of this, using too much water, including washing clothes, is avoided.

White and black clothes are linked to mourning and funerals in Chinese culture. Wearing these colors during Lunar New Year is believed to attract bad luck or sadness. Instead, people prefer bright and lucky colors like red to symbolize joy, success, and prosperity.

Lucky money in red envelopes should be given in even numbers. Even amounts symbolize harmony and double blessings. Odd numbers are believed to bring bad luck. People also avoid unlucky numbers like four because its pronunciation is similar to the word for death.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, families stay awake late in a tradition of welcoming the new year together. This custom is believed to protect the family and invite good fortune. Staying up late also symbolizes unity, celebration, and hope for a positive year ahead.

Killing animals during the first days of Lunar New Year is avoided because blood is seen as an unlucky sign. It is believed to bring accidents or misfortune. Many families prepare meat before the festival so no animals need to be killed during the celebration.

Breaking plates, bowls, or glass is seen as a symbol of broken luck or financial loss. If something breaks accidentally, people often say lucky phrases to cancel the bad omen. They believe whole and unbroken items represent completeness and prosperity.