Chinese New Year 2025: A 16-Day Festive Extravaganza with Fun Traditions and Quirky Superstitions

Chinese New Year 2025

Hi, Earthlings! Chinese New Year 2025 is just a couple weeks away.  If you didn’t know it  isn’t just a day; it’s a 16-day marathon of festivities, family, and all-around good vibes. It kicks off on Chinese New Year’s Eve (January 28, 2025) and wraps up with the Lantern Festival (February 12, 2025). If you’re in China, you’ll get an 8-day public holiday from January 28 to February 4—prime time to dive into all the fun!

Key Dates to Bookmark for Chinese New Year 2025

Here’s your cheat sheet for the most exciting days of the celebration:

  • January 23: Little Year (小年 Xiǎonián)
    Time to deep-clean your house and whip up delicious food. Out with the old, in with the luck!
  • January 28: Chinese New Year’s Eve (除夕 Chúxì)
    The ultimate family reunion! Visit ancestors’ graves, feast on a next-level dinner, share red envelopes, stay up ‘til midnight, and watch firecrackers light up the night.
  • January 29: Chinese New Year’s Day (初一 Chūyī)
    It’s all about visiting family, exchanging gifts, and spreading joy. Wear your best red outfit and get ready for good vibes.
  • February 12: Lantern Festival (元宵节 Yuánxiāojié)
    The grand finale! Think colorful lanterns, dragon dances, and a sky full of lights. It’s magical, trust me.

Things You Absolutely Shouldn’t Do During Chinese New Year 🚫

Okay, so Chinese New Year isn’t just about what you do—it’s about what you don’t do. Superstitions run strong because people believe the start of the year sets the tone for the rest of it. So here’s your guide to avoiding any bad juju:

No Sweeping or Taking Out the Trash

Cleaning on New Year’s Day? A big no-no. You’ll literally be “sweeping” or “throwing away” your good luck.

Don’t Eat Porridge for Breakfast

Porridge = poverty vibes. Skip it, and go for something fancy instead. Also, no meat for breakfast—it’s a sign of respect to the gods.

No Hair Washing or Haircuts

Washing your hair = washing away fortune. Cutting hair? Bad news for your uncles. Just embrace the messy bun life for a day.

No Laundry

The first two days of the New Year are all about respecting the Water God. Washing clothes is basically asking for bad luck.

No Needlework

Put the sewing kit away, girl. Doing needlework (even sewing on a button) might lead to a “hard year.”

No Scissors or Knives

Scissors = arguments. Knives = bad vibes. Let someone else handle the kitchen, or just go full takeout mode.

No Odd or Unlucky Numbers in Red Envelopes

Even numbers = good luck. Avoid 4 and 40, though, because “four” sounds like “death” in Chinese. Yikes.

Avoid Certain Gifts

No clocks (time running out), scissors (cutting ties), or pears (bad vibes). If something breaks, wrap the pieces in red paper and say, “Sui sui ping’an” (peace all year round). Crisis averted.

No Hospitals or Medicine

Unless it’s an emergency, skip the doctor. Visiting hospitals or taking medicine on New Year’s Day is believed to bring illness all year long.

No Lending or Borrowing Money

Settle debts before New Year’s Eve. Lending or borrowing money during the festivities is said to attract bad financial luck.

No Damaged or White/Black Clothes

Damaged clothes? Hard pass. White and black outfits? Too funereal. Stick to red—it’s the ultimate lucky color.

 No Killing (Even Bugs)

Avoid anything bloody from January 28 to February 12. People usually prep meat before New Year’s Eve to avoid any bad omens.

Keep the Good Vibes Rolling

Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate, reconnect, and manifest good fortune. So embrace the traditions, avoid the taboos, and get ready for a year filled with joy, luck, and endless blessings.

And hey, if you slip up on a superstition or two, no stress—just double down on the red envelopes!

 

Up next, I will tell you how to welcome the Wealth God so don’t forget to bookmark !

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