All the good fortune and prosperity need to find their way in! On Chinese New Year, leave all gateways of your home open. It also symbolises getting rid of the old and making way for the new.

It is believed that eating porridge for breakfast on the first day of the festival attracts bad luck. In the past, porridge was considered a staple for those who struggling to make ends meet as rice or barley cost very little. Ergo, it's best not to start the New Year with a non-festive meal.

A broken bowl, glass, plate, vase, or mirror is considered an omen of misfortune or a family conflict in the future. If you happen to break something, immediately pick up all the fragments and wrap it in red paper or cloth, and then throw it away on the fifth day into a lake or river. Some would say, “Sui Sui Ping An”, which asks for peace and safety every year.

Cleaning or even just sweeping should be done before the beginning of the Spring Festival. Doing the cleaning on the day of the celebration sweeps away bad luck and good fortune.

Scissors, knives, needles, or any sharp objects should not be used until the celebration of the Chinese New Year is over. Traditionally, it is to give women a well-deserved break. Using sharp objects also reflects cutting your stream of wealth and success. This is why most hair salons that participate on the occasion are closed.

Taking any unnecessary medicine during the Chinese New Year can result to sickness throughout the year. Aligned with this superstition, visiting the doctor, undergoing/performing surgery, and getting shots should also be avoided. However, if you have serious sickness, immediate health should always come first.

Chinese New Year is about all things bright and the colour red! The colours black and white are traditionally associated with mourning and must be avoided.

The first two days of the Chinese New Year festival are observed as the birthday of the God of Water. Doing the laundry during these days can offend the gods. Similarly, you also cannot wash your as it means washing one’s fortune away.

Arguments should be avoided during the Lunar New Year for a smooth path and healthy relationships the rest of the year. Meanwhile, crying forebodes disease and misfortune, which may bring bad luck to the whole family. But if a child cries, do not reprimand them and try to resolve issues peacefully as possible.

Numbers are a big deal in Chinese culture. Odd-numbered money gifts are traditionally associated with funerals so make sure to stick to even numbers! Even better if the number of the amount of money you put inside the ang pao or red envelope starts or ends with the number 8 as it boosts luck.

Some things that we normally gift on a normal holiday actually have a bad meaning in Chinese culture and should not be given as presents on Chinese New Year. Shoes sounds exactly like the Chinese word for bad luck or evil (“xié”), handkerchiefs symbolises farewell, and mirrors attract malicious ghosts.

After a great reunion dinner, the whole families sit together and chat happily to welcome the arrival of the New Year. Firecrackers and fireworks are let off to scare away inauspicious spirits.

After getting married, women are expected to live with her husband. Therefore, she cannot visit her own parents on the first day of the New Year as daughters are viewed as outsiders after marriage. It is said that if they return home on the first day, their parents would be stricken by poverty.

Believe it or not, waking someone up from bed can also bring bad luck. It is believed that that someone will be rushed around and bossed around for the whole year. Let someone get up from bed first before giving your New Year blessings.