Today, February 17, 2026, one of the most anticipated and spectacular celebrations of the lunar calendar begins: the Chinese New Year. This year we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, a zodiac sign considered powerful, dynamic and full of overwhelming energy. The celebrations will extend until March 3, with two weeks of celebrations, illuminated lanterns, dragon dances and colorful parades that will enliven Chinatowns around the world, from Beijing to San Francisco, from London to Milan. An explosion of colours, flavors and traditions that manages to enchant millions of people every year, even those who have little to do with Chinese culture.
But the Lunar New Year is not just fireworks and joyful conviviality. It is also a celebration deeply rooted in ancient beliefs, propitiatory rites and – above all – in a long list of things that are best not done if you want to start the year off right. Because Chinese tradition is clear: the way in which the first days of the new year are lived determines what will happen in the months to come. Here is a guide to everything that, according to popular wisdom, is best avoided during this extraordinary celebration.
Pay attention to the words
In Chinese the sound of words is everything, the language is very rich in homophones – words that are pronounced the same way but have different meanings – and this makes language during the holidays a delicate terrain to be navigated with care. Some words are considered a bad omen simply because they recall, in their pronunciation, concepts related to death, the end or misfortune. For this reason, during the holidays at the end and beginning of the year, it is best never to pronounce terms associated with the “end” or “termination” of something.
A practical example: if you finish eating first during Christmas Eve dinner, avoid announcing it out loud by saying “I’m done!”. That word, in that context, resonates like an unfortunate omen. Better to remain silent or choose your words carefully. The first words of the year are seeds: they grow and bear fruit for the following twelve months.
No medicine on the first day of the year
One of the most curious superstitions concerns health: on the first day of Chinese New Year you should not take medicine. Popular belief has it that doing so means condemning yourself to feel bad for the whole year. A paradox, of course, which can put a strain on those who suffer from some seasonal ailments. But the logic of tradition is clear: it is better to endure a day of annoyance than to bring upon oneself an entire year of ailments. A small sacrifice in the name of future prosperity.
Cleaning is done before, not during
Broom and dustpan should be put away well before the party begins. Sweeping the floor or throwing away the rubbish during the New Year is considered one of the most serious mistakes that can be made: it literally means “sweeping away” the good fortune that has just arrived in the house, dispersing in the rubbish the good fortune that has accumulated over the past year. Major house cleaning should be done in the days before the party, to free the house from any residual negativity. But once the celebrations have begun, the broom remains in place.
If by misfortune you break something – a plate, a glass, a glass object – do not despair. Tradition teaches that it is enough to pronounce the phrase 岁岁平安 aloud (Suì suiì ping ān“peace all year round”) to transform the bad omen into a blessing. The character 岁 (come on“year”) sounds identical to 碎 (come on“to break”), and this phonetic overlap allows the meaning of the accident to be overturned into something positive.
Knives, scissors and hair: what not to cut
Using knives or scissors during New Year’s Eve is not recommended because it symbolizes “cutting” luck or emotional ties. For this reason, in the most observant tradition, all foods are prepared in the days before, so as not to have to handle blades during the party. Similarly, having your hair cut in the first lunar month is considered a bad omen: it is said to bring bad luck to your maternal uncles. A very specific belief that testifies to how attentive Chinese culture is to family relationships and blood ties.
Washing your hair on the first day of the year is also traditionally not recommended. In Chinese “hair” is written 发 (ago), but the same character and the same pronunciation also refer to the word “prosperity”. Washing them would mean, symbolically, washing away the wealth.
Colors matter: goodbye to black and white
On New Year’s Day the wardrobe transforms. Black and white are the colors of mourning in China, and wearing them during the holiday would be like inviting sadness to sit at the table with you. The dominant color is red, the ultimate symbol of luck, joy and vitality. Red dresses, red envelopes (the famous ones hongbao with money inside), red decorations everywhere: red is the absolute protagonist of this celebration.
No debts, no arguments
Asking for or lending money during the New Year is a bad economic omen: starting the new year with a debt is equivalent to carrying it with you for the following twelve months. Likewise, arguing, shouting or swearing is absolutely to be avoided. The negative emotions expressed in the very first days of the year risk coloring everything that comes after with darkness. Even crying is considered an ominous sign, a harbinger of sadness that would be projected onto the entire year.
You never run out of fish
At the table, during Christmas Eve dinner, fish is an indispensable protagonist. But be careful: not everything should be eaten. There is a Chinese saying, 年年有余 (nián nián yǒu yú), which means “having more than enough every year.” The character 余 (yú“advanced, in excess”) has exactly the same pronunciation as 鱼 (yú“fish”). Leaving fish on your plate is therefore a powerful symbolic act: it means wishing yourself and your family abundance and prosperity for the year to come. A tasty but necessary sacrifice.
A married woman waits for the next day
Finally, one of the most surprising traditions for those unfamiliar with Chinese culture: a married woman should not visit her parents on the first day of the New Year. Doing so, according to belief, would cause economic difficulties for the family of origin. He will have to wait until the next day to celebrate the arrival of the new year with them. A rule that tells a lot about the system of values and family structures that have supported the fabric of Chinese society for centuries.
Whether you are superstitious or not, knowing these traditions means respecting a thousand-year-old culture which, even today, manages to unite billions of people around a common fire of hope, family and the desire for a better future. Happy Year of the Fire Horse to everyone: may it be a powerful, free and full of good fortune year.
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