TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — On Lunar New Year's Day, Taiwanese traditionally observe many folk taboos to ensure a prosperous and fortunate Year of the Snake.
Based on the lunisolar calendar, Wednesday (Jan. 29) is the first day of the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated for 15 days, with many cultural customs to be observed on each day. The following are 10 common traditional taboos in Taiwan listed by TVBS and Business Weekly.
1. Do not get a haircut or wash hair
The Chinese word for hair (髮) is a homonym with the word fortune (發). Getting a haircut on this day is believed to symbolize the cutting of one's financial fortune and washing hair is thought to represent a big outflow of money.
2. Do not wash clothes, sweep floor, or dispose of garbage
The first day of the Lunar New Year is considered the water god's birthday, and therefore doing any form of washing with water is considered offensive to the deity. Any sweeping or throwing out of trash is thought to signify discarding one's fortune from the home.
3. Do not collect or leave outstanding debts
One should not press for the payment of debts on this day. Otherwise, it will have negative consequences for the finances of both parties in the coming year.
If one owes money to others, it is best to pay it off before the end of the year, enabling oneself to enter the new year debt-free and unburdened.
4. Do not sleep in or nap
If one stays in bed and someone comes to visit and offers New Year’s greetings, tradition suggests that one will be confined to bed for the entire year. If one sleeps too late and is urged to get up, it could lead to being nagged throughout the year.
As the saying goes: "If a man naps in the field, his crops will fail; if a woman sleeps in the kitchen, her meals will spoil." Taking a nap is considered a symbol of laziness and will affect one's career fortunes.
5. Do not swear or curse
Swearing or cursing during the festival could make one prone to misspeaking and starting arguments in the coming year. Instead, one should speak kindly and do good deeds to ensure a smooth and successful year ahead.
6. Do not use sharp objects
According to tradition, using scissors, sewing needles, or other sharp objects during the Lunar New Year is believed to symbolize cutting off future wealth. This also applies to nail clippers, which is why some avoid trimming their nails during the New Year period.
7. Do not get angry
Avoid losing one's temper and instead use more complementary and auspicious words. Reducing friction with others helps usher a fresh start and positive energy for the new year.
8. Do not turn off all the lights
It is advisable not to turn off all the lights on the evening of the Lunar New Year's Day, especially in households where deities are worshipped. Keeping the lights on symbolizes welcoming the new year with brightness, hope, and light throughout the entire year.
9. Do not break anything
Breaking things on New Year's Day may result in losses or family rifts in the future. If something is broken, the remedy is to wrap the fragments with red paper or cloth and place them under the household's altar.
While doing so, one must say "歲歲平安" (suìsuìpíng'ān). The first character sounds like the sound to "break" (碎), but in this case, it is replaced with a homonym that means "age" (歲) and said twice means to live a long life and adds the words "peace" and "safety" (平安) at the end.
10. Do not place odd amounts in red envelopes
Red envelopes and gifts should not have odd amounts. Good gifts come in pairs, so during the Lunar New Year, red envelopes should always contain an even sum, such as NT$200, NT$600, and NT$800.
Similarly, when giving gifts, it is preferable to have an even number, like a box of pineapple cakes or fruits with two, six, eight, or 12 items. Odd amounts and the number four are considered unlucky according to traditional beliefs.