Chinese New Year 2026 will usher in the powerful energy of the Fire Horse on February 17, a year associated with speed, bold decisions, and dramatic change. In Chinese culture, what you do on the very first day of the Lunar New Year is believed to “set the tone” for your luck, health, and finances for the months ahead.
Below you’ll find a clear, evidence‑based guide to what many people traditionally avoid on the first day of the year, plus simple ways to honor these customs without losing your personal style.
Why the Fire Horse Year Feels So Intense
In the Chinese zodiac, each year combines an animal sign with one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. The year 2026 is ruled by the Horse (a symbol of freedom, movement, and independence) and the Fire element (linked to passion, visibility, and drive), creating the so‑called Fire Horse year.
This combination is known for fast‑moving opportunities, strong emotions, and a “no time to waste” feeling in both personal and professional life. Many people therefore take extra care with New Year rituals and taboos, hoping to guide this intense energy toward prosperity rather than chaos.
It is the most important traditional holiday in China and is now widely observed in many Asian communities and Chinatowns worldwide. (Photo: Image created by El Comercio Mag using ChatGPT AI)
Daily Life Habits to Avoid on New Year’s Day
On the first day of Chinese New Year, everyday actions are loaded with symbolic meaning, especially around money and health. Here are some of the most widely cited taboos:
- Do not sweep or take out the trash: Sweeping the floor or throwing out garbage is believed to symbolically “sweep away” or “dump out” wealth and good fortune that have just entered your home. Most families do a deep clean before New Year’s Eve and then avoid these tasks on the first day.
- Avoid washing clothes: The first and second days of the Lunar New Year are traditionally associated with the birthday of the water god, so washing clothes is seen as disrespectful and as pouring your wealth away with the used water.
- Skip washing or cutting your hair: In Mandarin, the word for hair shares the same character and sound as the “fa” in “to become wealthy,” so washing your hair on New Year’s Day is interpreted as washing away your fortune. Haircuts are also avoided that day, with many people choosing to cut their hair before the holiday instead.
- Don’t wash herbal medicine or take it if you can avoid it: Brewing or taking medicine on the first day is thought to invite illness throughout the entire year. Some regions even have customs like breaking old medicine pots at midnight to “break” sickness for the coming year.
- Avoid naps and excessive laziness: In some modern interpretations, taking a nap on the first day is said to set a pattern of laziness and low productivity for the year. Staying awake, engaged, and active is preferred to symbolize a motivated and energetic life.
Speech, Emotions, and Social Taboos
Words and emotional tone are considered just as important as actions on New Year’s Day. Many households follow these practices to protect their relationships and overall harmony:
- No negative or “unlucky” words: People avoid language connected with death, illness, poverty, or ghosts and choose softer euphemisms instead. This includes steering clear of jokes or comments that sound pessimistic, harsh, or threatening, especially around children and elders.
- Keep children from crying, and avoid fights: A child crying on New Year’s Day is believed to bring bad luck to the family, so adults do their best to soothe them quickly. Arguments, yelling, and insults are also seen as inviting conflict for the rest of the year, so families emphasize patience and gentle communication.
- Don’t visit the hospital unless it’s an emergency: A non‑urgent visit to the hospital during this period is traditionally seen as attracting illness in the months ahead. In serious situations, of course, health comes first, but culturally the preference is to stay away unless strictly necessary.
- Avoid lending or collecting debts: Lending money on the first day, or going to someone’s home to demand repayment, is thought to bring financial problems or “chasing money” all year long. Many people aim to settle debts before New Year’s Eve as a symbolic clean slate.
Clothing, Colors, and Household Symbols
What you wear and how your home looks are also part of the New Year symbolism.
- Don’t wear black or white: In traditional Chinese culture, black and white are associated with mourning and funerals, so they are considered inauspicious for New Year celebrations. Instead, people choose bright colors that signal joy and vitality.
- Choose red and other auspicious colors: Red, in particular, is strongly linked with good luck, protection, and prosperity, and its importance is amplified in a Fire year, where the element itself resonates with warmth and brightness. Wearing red clothing or accessories and using red decorations are classic ways to “invite” good fortune into the home.
- Avoid broken or damaged clothing and objects: Wearing torn clothes or breaking dishes, glasses, or mirrors during the festival period is believed to symbolize “incompleteness,” monetary loss, or family breakup. If something breaks accidentally, some households wrap the pieces in red paper and say a blessing that plays on a Chinese pun for “safe all year.”
Food, Gifts, and Money Customs
Food and money practices during the New Year are full of symbolism about abundance and stability.
- Skip porridge as your first meal: Porridge has historically been associated with poverty, so eating it for breakfast on the first day is seen as starting the year “poor” and attracting financial hardship. Families often choose richer or more festive dishes to express a wish for abundance instead.
- Avoid meat at the first breakfast (in many traditions): Out of respect for Buddhist deities, who are believed to oppose killing animals, many people avoid meat at breakfast on New Year’s Day. A simple vegetarian meal is thought to show compassion and invite spiritual blessings.
- Use red envelopes carefully: Red envelopes filled with money (hongbao) symbolize protection and luck, especially for children and younger relatives. However, it is customary to give even amounts of money and avoid the number four, which sounds like “death” in Chinese.
- Be thoughtful with gifts: Certain items—like clocks, scissors, or pears—are traditionally avoided as New Year gifts because their names or uses are tied to separation, cutting ties, or running out of time. Safer options include sweets, tea, or symbolic fruits such as oranges and tangerines, which represent wealth and good fortune.
How to Honor These Traditions in a Modern Way
You don’t need to follow every single rule perfectly to benefit from the spirit behind these customs. The core idea is simple: begin the Fire Horse year with actions, words, and symbols that reflect the life you want to create—prosperous, healthy, and emotionally balanced.
You can clean thoroughly before February 17, plan a bright red outfit, prepare a meat‑free, non‑porridge breakfast, and schedule financial or medical tasks for another day when possible. By intentionally avoiding these common taboos, you align yourself with centuries of tradition while giving your 2026 a confident, auspicious start.
