This new year has started with a new style. Since last year Coronavirus has been celebrating the new year with us. So in order to keep us safe, gatherings are strictly prohibited this new year, so stay home, stay safe. But do you know that according to Chinese people’s beliefs there are many things we should not do on the 1st day of the new year.
We have brought together some of the top 6 beliefs together for you. Here it is:
1. No odd amounts of lucky money.
Red envelopes shouldn’t contain odd amounts of money. It is traditional for Chinese people to believe that good things come in doubles. Nevertheless, avoid unlucky numbers like 4 and 40, as 4 sounds like death in Chinese.
2. Be careful not to break bowls, plates, or glasses.
Incompleteness and bad luck are symbolized by breaking. Bowls, plates, glasses, vases, or mirrors broken during the new yearl are believed to bring bad fortune, financial loss, or family breakup.
3. Porridge and meat should not be eaten for breakfast.
People believe porridge is only eaten by poor people, and it is a bad omen to begin the year poor.
In addition, meat shouldn’t be consumed at this breakfast out of respect for the (Buddhist) gods (which are believed to oppose killing animals), as all gods are expected to be out meeting each other and wishing a happy New Year to all.
4. Using unlucky words is not recommended.
During the New Year period, no one wants to hear words that have negative connotations. You should not use words like death, sickness, poverty, ghosts, etc. Often, individuals replace these euphemisms with euphemisms when discussing such topics, for example saying that “someone is gone” instead of “someone died”.
5. Take no medicine.
It is taboo for a person to drink herbal medicine or take medicine on the first day of the new year, or else one is feared to become ill for the entire year.
At midnight on New Year’s Day, some people break their gallipots (medicine pots) to drive the illness away in the coming year, following the ringing of the bell announcing the New Year.
6. Keep your hands off the garbage and don’t sweep.
Sweeping represents sweeping away wealth on this day. The act of taking out the garbage signifies disposing of good luck or fortune from the house.
Conclusion
Now you know what the beliefs are, you can also relate to them. This doesn’t mean you should strictly follow it. These are beliefs and it depends on you whether you believe it or not.
The things which you should strictly follow is covid protocols as there is no end of coronavirus and each time it is coming with a new strong variant. Instead of partying around and getting sick we should just stay at home and spend some quality time with family this year. Hence after reading this article you know what to do and what not. Anyways it’s New year and we should enjoy it and make it memorable in our own way.
