Top 10 things not to do in Lunar New Year

tháng 1 28, 2022

We have a few days to our Tết. Actually, there are only 2 days left

Do you feel that the weather is warmer and the sky is cleaner?

Do you see the atmosphere turn more festive these days?

Do you love Tết?

Tết or Lunar New Year is the most meaningful time in Asian culture. Tết is the time when we return to our family and gather to celebrate a year of happiness, prosperity, health, and wishing for good fortune in the next year.

Asia culture is based on religion. Many Asians believe that the new year is the perfect time for no negative thoughts. So, throughout the holiday season, there are several regulations (some not so fun) that you must follow, or else you are supposed to attract bad luck for the coming year.

Here are the Top 10 things not to Do and Don't in Lunar New Year - the heroic Tiger year.

1. Don't sweep the house or dump the garbage.

On the first three days of Tết, you are not recommended to sweep your house or throw away the rubbish to prevent luck and benefits from going with it. It is highly suggested not to clean the house on the first day of the New Year.

According to an old Chinese story, if you sweep the house and take away the rubbish, the god of fortune will go away, so your family will be poor in that year.

So, you should be ready to live with dirt and dust during 3 first days of the Tết holidays.

2. Don't take water and fire away from Vietnamese houses

In Vietnamese tradition, both fire and water can be regarded as the source of the family's warmth and wealth. On the beginning day of the year, it is a big No-No when you are taking water out of somebody's house is similar to taking away their wealth. Hence, don't take things related to water or fire out of somebody's house. It is believed to be bad luck.

3. Don't wear black and white clothes

Black and White are basic colors, and it is flexible for many fashion style. These colors are timeless fashion choices. Otherwise, white and black are the colors of funerals and deaths in old beliefs. It is not a good fashion idea to start a new year due to the ancient myth. Thus, we often go for red, pink-red, or colorful colors in the three first days to create excitement and joy to welcome the new year.

4. Don't eat duck meat, squids, shrimps during Tet

People believed that ink in the squids is black, duck is stupid, and shrimps remind you to move backward. Yes, it is unreasonable, but people follow it as traditional culture. Nowadays, we have better open-minded for Tết food.

5. Don't say bad or unlucky words

On the first day of the year, Vietnamese people avoid languages and actions that bring misfortune. Vietnamese people always avoid languages and acts that bring bad luck on the first day of the year. In reality, Tết is when we are home with the people we love. In-home, we have love and no more fight or argument. To prevent losing harmony and driving happiness away, people do not curse at each other. Talking about dangers during Tet is also discouraged.

6. Avoid entering Vietnamese' house on the 1st day of Lunar New Year without invitation

The act of being the first person to enter a house on Tết is called "xông đất," which is one of the most important rituals during Tết.On the 1st day of the Lunar New Year, you should not come to anyone's house if you haven't been invited by the host first. Usually, a person of good temper, morality, and success will be the lucky sign for the host family and be invited first into the house. If you had funerals in your family last year, you must pay attention to not visiting their place for the first 3 days of the Lunar New Year.

7. Abstain from crying, sadness, and anger

People believed that if you are sad on Tet's first days, you will be miserable for the rest of the year. It is related to the customs of un-lucky clothes and taboo food.

8. Don't break dishes

Dishes represent families, so dishes must not be broken during Tet to avoid personal conflicts and unfortunate events. Breaking things will create separation and separation. It is bad luck for the whole year.

9. Avoid demanding money during Tết

It is believed that the end of the year is an opportunity for people to deal with the old year's mistakes, misunderstandings, and debts to feel more comfortable and have a happy New Year. Tết is not a suitable time to require them to repay you. Traditionally, people believe that if they return or borrow money at the beginning of the year, they will have to borrow and repay money for the rest of the year. We can manage to clear the debts before Tết, or please keep calm and wait until the next 2-3 weeks later.

10. Don't shower or wash your hair on the first day of Tet

It corresponds to the day of the Water God, the god of prosperity and proliferation. So discharging a lot of water will lead to a loss of personal happiness. Therefore, people will avoid showering and washing their hair on the first day of Tet (Mùng 1) because they believe the knowledge and luck will be washed away.

The Fackin' English got through some Do and Don't tradition in Tết in Vietnamese culture. We also believe in the proverb "Pray for holiness. Be patient for good". We will keep several regulations to attract luck in the coming year.