It’s Lunar New Year, and as they say, it’s out with the old and in with the new. However, as with Western New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of myths, superstitions, and traditions surrounding Lunar New Year.
On 17 February, 2026, we’re heading into the Year of the Horse. So let’s start the year off right and not invite any bad luck with these activities…
Don’t cut your hair!
If you have a hair appointment in the first week of the Lunar New Year, you should maybe consider shifting it.
Hair (发 / fa) sounds like “prosperity” (fa cai). Cutting hair is symbolically seen as cutting off wealth or good fortune.
Some traditions extend the taboo to the first few days, the first 15 days, or even the whole first lunar month, depending on the region. Some beliefs even connect hair cutting with harming family luck or ancestral blessings.
Don’t wash your hair or shower
Similar to Western New Year’s Eve traditions, washing your hair or showering can be seen as washing away luck or prosperity. In some traditions, the first days are linked to water deities, so washing is avoided out of respect.
Don’t take out the rubbish (or sweep!)
Put down your sweeping brush and let the bins sit for another day. Cleaning before the New Year can be seen as a way to clear away bad luck. Cleaning after midnight can be seen as sweeping away any new luck. So if you’re planning on cleaning, save it for Lunar New Year Day.
Don’t wash clothes
Similarly to not cleaning or washing your hair, save your laundry for a day or two, as washing your clothes is “disrespectful” to water gods.
Don’t wear black or white
Avoid white and black colours on your outfit for New Year’s Day. Both of these colours are associated with mourning and therefore can be considered unlucky. Instead, opt for red, which is a lucky colour.
Don’t eat porridge or meat for breakfast
Save the bacon and egg roll for another day and go for a veggie breakfast on Lunar New Year Day. Porridge is considered for less well-off people. So, eating it can be a bad omen for wealth and prosperity to eat it on the first day of the new year. Also, meat shouldn’t be eaten first out of respect for the Buddhist gods.
“Lucky foods” for New Year’s include fish, sweet rice balls, and longevity noodles.
Don’t visit your parents (if you’re a married woman)
Supposesly a married woman visiting her parents’ house on Lunar New Year’s Day can bring bad luck and economic hardship to the family. Save your visit for the following day.
