They are many do and dont’s during Chinese New Year if we followed very closely to the traditional Chinese traditions and cultures.

This do and dont’s was shared with us by Master Lyn Yap last and I believe this will be applicable on every Chinese New Year which are a part of our Chinese tradition practised by most chinese all over the world -

1) Do a spring cleaning before the lunar new year so as to welcome the new “qi” (good fortune) to come into your house

2) Hang lunar new year decorations like “red” things in the house – it can be a red banner, red trays etc to welcome the new year -

3) Wear red for the first 3 days of the lunar new year

4) Go to the bank and deposit money in the first 15 days of the lunar new year -

5) Speak or say only “good words” for the first 3 day of the lunar new year -

6) Paste a paper “chai sen yeh” usually red on the wall to invite good fortune -

7) It is good luck to do a donation during the first 15 days of Chinese New Year -

Paint your nails red - Switch on all the lights for one hour on Chinese New Year eve -

9) Take all the auspicious sounding food like fish and “yu sheng”, black moss etc -

10) During the lunar new year – every household should have a candy tray which is usually round to mean “togetherness” -

11) The candy tray should have :
a) black melon seeds – meaning growth and good health
b) red melon seeds – meaning joy and happiness
c) red dates – meaning many children and good fortune
d) peanuts – meaning long life
e) sweets – meaning sweetness
f) pine apple tarts – meaning good luck

12) All debts should be paid before the lunar new year
arrives -

Here are the DON”TS for the lunar new year - (between 1st to 15th day of the lunar new year)

1) Do not eat “sour plums” -
Otherwise, it is going to be a sour year.

2) Do not shed tears during the first 15 years of the lunar new year -

3) Do not loose temper or even shout or scream or get involve in any quarrels, the first 15 days of the lunar new year -

4) Do not go and cut your hair the first 15 days of the lunar new year -

5) Do not lend people money -

6) Do not wear black on the first day of the lunar new year -

7) Do not sweep the floor the first 15 days of the lunar new year -

Do not trim or pluck your eyebrow -

9) Do not visit the clinics or hospitals the first 15 days of the lunar new year -

10) Do not move house or visit funerals or go to the police station -

11) Do not spend a big sum of money away like buying a new house in the first 15 days of the lunar new year -

12) Do not travel on the first day of the lunar new year -

13) Do not go to dark places -

14) Do not use a pair of scissors/knifes to cut anything during the 1st 3 days of the lunar new year -