To ensure a good year ahead, many Singapore families abide by a set of Chinese New Year superstitions. This practice is seen as an omen of luck for the next twelve months.
Although many no longer believe in these superstitions, they still adhere to the taboos and best practices as it is part and parcel of the Chinese culture and heritage. Why not teach your little ones these Chinese New Year superstitions?
Chinese New Year Superstitions in Singapore to Teach Your Kids
With Chinese New Year just a few days away, here are some Chinese New Year superstitions for kids to know about.
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Wearing bright new clothes
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Red and bright colours are usually worn during this festive period. These colours are considered lucky. Dark colours, especially black, are avoided as they are usually worn at a funeral.
The same principle goes for damaged clothes. Damaged clothes are said to attract bad luck. The idea is to wear new clothes, symbolising a new beginning for the coming year.
So make sure your child looks presentable with bright, new clothes to usher in the new year and teach them about the importance of this Chinese New Year superstition when they insist on wearing their raggy old ones.
Empty storage receptacles such as jars should be avoided in your home. Empty jars or containers, such as rice containers, are considered to be bad omens during this festive period. The idea is to have plenty. Think of abundance. This is the tone that you want to set for the rest of the year.
You can ask your child’s help to fill up the jars with coins and trinkets in preparation for the Chinese New Year.
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Not a good day for chores
While we always want to instil hard work and perseverance in our children, the festive period is meant for fun and to spend time with family and friends. Chores are minimised. Avoid sweeping the floor, in particular. Do all the sweeping before the festive period.
Sweeping the house on the first day of Chinese New Year is akin to sweeping away good luck. However, if it is really necessary – for example if your kids dropped a trash bin filled with peanut skins – the homeowner should sweep from the outside towards the inside of the house. This direction represents the collection of money flowing into your home.
To stay on the safe side, teach your child this popular Chinese New Year tradition to discourage him from making a lot of mess and rubbish on the first day of the lunar year.
We all want our kids to have adequate rest on those special occasions to minimise the occurrence of meltdowns. So let them take a lot of rest on the days prior to the eve of Chinese New Year so they will have enough energy to last them the whole day and the day after!
Chinese tradition believes that children should stay up late on the eve of Chinese New Year to bring longevity to their parents. That means the longer you stay awake, the longer your parents’ lives will be.
Moreover, there is also the superstition that people who nap during the first day of the year, and on celebrations and house visits are more likely to be lazy and unproductive for the rest of the year.
If you want to adhere to this popular Chinese New Year superstition, make sure you keep your kids entertained by preparing a lot of fun activities for them to do and celebrate with the rest of the family.
However, tread lightly when implementing this belief in young children. We know how kids get when they do not have enough rest, and it’s also considered bad luck for children to be crying at the start of Chinese New Year. So, pick your battles!
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Avoid using scissors and other sharp objects
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Using sharp objects should be avoided especially on the first day of the Chinese New Year. This is seen as cutting away good fortune or good luck. Scissors represent possible quarrels. Some families in China go as far as to avoid using scissors for the entire month.
Skip the arts and crafts that involve scissors on these auspicious dates and find other fun, mess-free activities to do with your child on Chinese New Year.
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Avoid taking medicine (if possible)
The belief here is that taking medicine on the first day of the lunar year means you will get ill, and the illness will last for the entire year. Tell your kids that they may not only end up missing a lot of school but also all the parties, games and outings.
The best thing to do is to make sure your child is not ill on the first day of Chinese New Year by making sure they are fed and rested well.
Your child may wonder why most, if not all, hair salons are closed on this holiday. Explain to them that it’s bad luck to wash or cut your hair on these dates because of the old Chinese New Year superstition.
Washing your hair on the first day is akin to ‘washing your fortune away’. This superstition has its origin in the Chinese pronunciation of hair and “becoming wealthy”, which sounds similar. Of course, it means that you need to wash your hair a day before and, probably, a day after the lunar new year.
So, hold off on getting a haircut or giving your child a haircut until after all the Lunar New Year festivities are done.
Chinese New Year Superstitions That Revolve Around Dealing With Others
The start of the lunar year is a time to be with family and friends. So, there are a number of Chinese New Year superstitions that relate to how you interact with others. These practices are also important to teach your kids as they reflect good manners and a good upbringing.
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Pay attention to your words. Don’t use words with negative connotations in your conversation. Negative words include death, killing, pain, poverty and loss.
While kids like scaring each other when they are together, remind your child that they should refrain from telling ghost stories on Chinese New Year. This is very inauspicious. Skip horror films as well. Besides, these days should be filled with celebration and merrymaking instead of terror.
Yet another tricky superstition about sleeping and taking naps. While it is considered bad luck to be sleeping through the start of the lunar year, remind your child that under no circumstance should they wake other people up from their sleep.
More than it is good manners, there is another superstition that says those who are woken up by someone on the first day of the Lunar New Year will constantly be ordered around and work nonstop for the rest of the year. So please, teach your child to be kind and let others sleep if they want to.
Instead, teach your child to be gracious instead and practice generosity at the start of the Lunar year. One nice practice is to exchange mandarin oranges with your guests, or with the homeowners, if you are visiting.
This round golden fruit is a symbol of prosperity and good luck. Two fruits are the norm. This is in line with a Chinese proverb that goes: good things come in pairs.
These are just some of the popular Chinese New Year superstitions that you can teach your child. Educating them about these at a young age will help them appreciate their culture and instil in them the values that you want them to have and cherish as they grow.
Why Do We Follow Superstitions in Chinese New Year?
Cultural significance of Chinese superstitions.
Chinese superstitions hold deep cultural significance and are ingrained in the daily lives of the Chinese people. These superstitions not only play a role in traditional celebrations such as Chinese New Year, but also in everyday activities and decision-making. They reflect the Chinese belief in harmony, balance, and the influence of unseen forces.
Many superstitions are rooted in ancient Chinese folklore, mythology, and the teachings of Confucianism and Taoism. These beliefs shape the behaviour and customs of individuals and communities, serving as a way to ward off bad luck, seek good fortune, and ensure the well-being of individuals and their families.
Chinese superstitions demonstrate the enduring link between the past and present, preserving cultural identity and maintaining a sense of connection to ancestors and the spiritual realm.
Incorporating traditions for good luck.
Joyful grandmother and her young granddaughter decorating their house with new red Chinese lanterns, preparing for Chinese New Year.
Incorporating traditions for good luck is a common practice during Chinese New Year festivities. These traditions are based on the belief that certain actions and rituals can bring about positive energy and ward off misfortune. One such tradition is the act of thoroughly cleaning the house before the start of the new year.
It is believed that this helps to sweep away any negative energy and make way for good luck to enter the home. Another tradition is the hanging of red decorations, such as lanterns and couplets, as red is considered an auspicious colour that symbolises luck and prosperity.
Additionally, the exchange of red envelopes containing money, known as “hongbao,” is another way to attract good fortune and blessings for the coming year.
By incorporating these traditions into their celebrations, individuals uphold cultural practices and embrace the belief that following these superstitions will bring them luck and happiness in the year ahead.
Strengthening family and community bonds.
The significance of following superstitions during Chinese New Year extends beyond attracting good luck and fortune. Another important aspect of these traditions is the strengthening of family and community bonds.
Many of the activities and customs associated with this festive occasion are meant to bring people together and foster a sense of unity.
For instance, the reunion dinner, where family members gather to share a meal on the eve of the new year, is a cherished tradition that allows for meaningful connections and the reaffirmation of family ties.
Similarly, participating in lion and dragon dances, firework displays, and temple visits are opportunities for community members to come together, celebrate, and reinforce their sense of belonging.
These communal experiences not only create lasting memories but also contribute to the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage from one generation to the next.
By honouring these traditions, individuals actively engage in building and maintaining strong family and community relationships, which are essential for the well-being and cohesion of society as a whole.
Also read:
Chinese New Year Dos and Don’ts: A Festive Guide to Navigating Tradition
The Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year 2024 in Singapore for Families
