Lobsters, too are considered as one of the unlucky food to have during Chinese New Year. This is because they swim backwards which indicates that there may likely be problems in the coming year. White foods such as eggs, tofu and white cheeses have an unlucky color that signifies death.
It's also suggested you should not eat certain things on New Year's Eve, in order to prevent bad luck for the year ahead, such as lobster and chicken. Since lobsters can move backwards, eating them before the stroke of midnight may cause setbacks. For chickens, the idea is similar as they can scratch backwards.
It's believed that whatever you do during the course of the Lunar New Year celebration will set the tone for the year ahead. Cursing, swearing, or arguing with anyone during the celebration of the holiday could mean a year of arguments and troubling relationships.
Pears. Giving gifts of fruit is common on Chinese New Year but one to avoid is the pear.
Dumplings and Potstickers: Wealth
The first foods we want to cover are dumplings and potstickers because they are beloved dishes that anyone from anywhere will enjoy. The reason that dumplings are a lucky food for Chinese New Year is because they symbolize wealth.
Two colors within Chinese culture, however, should be avoided: black and white, which are traditionally colors worn in times of mourning.
Giving someone a clock can be a big mistake, as the pronunciation of clock (钟表 zhōng biǎo) is homophonic to ending, termination, or death (终 zhōng), and can be especially offensive to older people, suggesting that you are praying for their death.
Bad Luck for the New Year
Getting a haircut in the first lunar month puts a curse on maternal uncles. Therefore, people get a haircut before the New Year's Eve. Sweeping the floor is usually forbidden on the first day, as it will sweep away the good fortune and luck for the New Year.
Porridge should not be eaten, because it is considered that only poor people have porridge for breakfast, and people don't want to start the year "poor" as this is a bad omen.
Among them are things like not showering or cleaning the house for a few days in case we wash and sweep away the coming year's good luck, and staying at home.
This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces chances of prosperity in the year ahead. Actually, LNY fundamentalists will tell you taking a shower is also off-limits on the first day for the same reason.
Looking for prosperity? As Southern tradition dictates, black-eyed peas, greens, and cornbread represent pennies, dollars, and gold, respectively, so eating them together on New Year's will keep your purse full all year long.
Each grape represents one month of the new year. For maximum effectiveness, tradition says that you must eat one grape at each strike of the clock before midnight, which will ensure luck and prosperity in the new year.
The Chinese dislike being touched by strangers. Do not touch, hug, lock arms, back slap or make any body contact. Clicking fingers or whistling is considered very rude. Never put your feet on a desk or a chair.
Chinese Gift Giving Taboos || Avoid These
In China, is not a good idea giving clocks (送钟 sòng zhōng), umbrellas (伞, sǎn), pears (梨 lí) or shoes (鞋 xié) as they all have “bad” homophones: 送终 sòng zhōng) “attending a funeral ritual” (送终 sòng zhōng), (散 sàn) “to separate”, (离 lí) “leaving or parting” and (邪 xié) evil.
Tip: Always offer two mandarin oranges with both hands. This is the most basic form of respect in Chinese culture. Your recipient may politely refuse at first, but don't give up — keep trying and they'll eventually give in and exchange a pair with you!
The Color of Chinese New Year Clothes
One common practice with regards to clothes that can still be witnessed today to a somewhat large extent is the use of the color red. As is probably already very well-known, red is the top Chinese lucky color and represents strength and prosperity.
Red is the traditional colour of the Han — the dominant ethnic group in China — that signifies good fortune, luck, vitality, celebration and prosperity. Especially during the Chinese New Year, the country's people adorn themselves in red apparel to boost luck and ward off evil spirits.
“Girls afraid of wearing red for Chinese New Year and looking like a hongbao can go for pink — and it's perceived as a more youthful colour, too.
Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year food gifts because they're believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine closely resemble the words for luck and wealth. The gold color also symbolizes prosperity.
Steamed whole fish
Fish is a homonym for abundance. It symbolizes the Chinese idiom "May you always have more than you need." When served with the head and tail intact, the fish carries an additional meaning: a positive beginning and end for the coming year. Traditionally, half of the fish is saved for the next day.
Baby Bok Choy
It can symbolize wealth and luck for the year as well as good fortune for the future. This small, green leafy vegetable can also represent longevity of life, especially for parents and elders. Baby bok choy can be found in stir fries and other sauce-forward dishes during this special time of year.