Chinese New Year Taboos: What Not to Do During Spring Festival — and Why
Chinese New Year is a time of joy, reunion, and abundance. But it is also a time when millions of families follow a detailed set of taboos (禁忌 / jìnjì) — actions to avoid, words not to say, and objects not to use — all rooted in the belief that how you start the new year sets the tone for the next 365 days. Understanding these taboos offers a fascinating window into the values, fears, and hopes that shape Chinese family life during the most important holiday of the year.
Perhaps the most widespread taboo is no sweeping or taking out the trash on New Year’s Day. The Chinese word for “sweep away” (扫 / sǎo) sounds like “to lose” or “to eliminate,” and sweeping on the first day of the year is thought to sweep away good fortune. Many families sweep their homes thoroughly on New Year’s Eve — a ritual called sweeping the dust (扫尘 / sǎo chén) — then lock the brooms away until the second day of the new year. Taking out the trash is similarly forbidden, as it is seen as throwing away wealth.
Another major taboo is avoiding negative words and arguments. Words like “death” (死 / sǐ), “sickness” (病 / bìng), “poverty” (穷 / qióng), and “broken” (破 / pò) are strictly avoided during the holiday period. Parents gently correct children who accidentally say something unlucky, and a common remedy is to immediately say “童言无忌” (tóng yán wú jì / “children’s words are free of taboo”) to neutralize the bad luck. Heated arguments are also avoided — the first day of the year is meant to be harmonious, and any conflict is believed to foreshadow disagreements throughout the year.
At the dinner table, specific food taboos apply. Fish must not be finished on New Year’s Eve — the phrase “may there be surplus every year” (年年有余 / nián nián yǒu yú) plays on the word “fish” (鱼 / yú), which sounds like “surplus” (余). Leaving fish on the plate symbolizes abundance carried into the new year. Porridge (粥 / zhōu) is also avoided on New Year’s morning because it is associated with poverty and frugality. Instead, families eat dumplings (jiaozi) or rice cakes (niangao) — foods that symbolize wealth and rising fortunes.
In northern China, it is considered bad luck to break a bowl, plate, or glass during the holiday. If a breakage does happen, the pieces are quickly wrapped in red paper and the words “岁岁平安” (suì suì píng ān / “peace year after year”) are spoken aloud — the phrase plays on the sound of “breaking” (碎 / suì) sounding like “year” (岁 / suì). This is a classic example of how Chinese culture turns misfortune into a linguistic blessing.
Other taboos include no haircuts during the first lunar month. An old saying warns that cutting hair in the first month causes harm to one’s maternal uncles (正月剃头死舅舅 / zhēng yuè tì tóu sǐ jiùjiu). While few people today genuinely believe their uncles are in danger, the tradition persists — barbershops in China see a massive rush just before the New Year and again after the Dragon Heads-Raising Festival (二月二 / èr yuè èr) on the second day of the second lunar month, when it is considered auspicious to cut hair again.
These taboos are part of a broader Spring Festival tradition that includes red envelopes, family reunions, and ancestor worship. They also overlap with lunar calendar customs that shape the entire year of celebrations. For visitors experiencing Chinese New Year in China, following these taboos — or at least being aware of them — is a meaningful way to show respect for the culture.
After all, the underlying message of every Spring Festival taboo is simple: start the year with care, intention, and hope. And that’s a tradition anyone can appreciate.
