Top 10 Things You Should Avoid Doing on New Year's Day

In the tradition of the New Year's housewarming, the first person to step into someone’s home on the first day of Tet is believed to bring either good luck or misfortune to the family for the entire year. Therefore, people who are in mourning or who are not a good match with the host’s zodiac should avoid visiting. People in mourning should not enter other homes to prevent bad luck from being passed on. It is a widely practiced custom across all regions of Vietnam during Tet to avoid those who are grieving. Many people who have recently lost loved ones choose to remain more reserved during the first three days of Tet to avoid bringing misfortune to others. According to Vietnamese belief, someone in mourning could bring bad luck to the household they visit on New Year’s Day.

Many elderly individuals, especially those in traditional families, hold the belief that wearing bright colors on New Year’s Day is important. Bright clothing is thought to attract positive energy, vitality, and health. This concept is also supported by feng shui, which associates vibrant colors with positive energy. Common colors for Tet celebrations include red and yellow. Black, on the other hand, is considered inauspicious due to its somber tone and is thought to attract negative energy. This is why wearing black on New Year's Day is discouraged.

Similar to sweeping the house or throwing out trash, the act of opening cabinets is believed to release good fortune and wealth from the household. In traditional beliefs, money is often stored in cabinets, and opening them is akin to spending money continuously. It is considered bad luck to allow wealth to diminish on the first day of the year.

In some regions, families in Central Vietnam even seal their cabinets before New Year’s Eve to prevent children or guests from unknowingly opening them. Additionally, some households carefully prepare the necessary items and clothing for the first three days of the New Year outside the cabinets to avoid touching them.

These actions create chaos and bring sadness to others. During the New Year, people tend to focus on how they interact with others. It is a time of joy, and people are expected to be happy, cheerful, and friendly with everyone to create a warm and joyful atmosphere for the spring season.

Avoid arguing during the first three days of the New Year to keep the household peaceful, happy, and filled with joy. Vietnamese people believe that a good start leads to a good outcome, so a positive beginning sets the tone for the rest of the year. This is why during the New Year, people strive to laugh, joke, and engage in open conversations for good fortune.

Similar to avoiding giving fire, many people also avoid giving water at the beginning of the year. Water is considered one of the fundamental elements of the universe, symbolizing growth and prosperity in Vietnamese culture. The phrase "money flows like water" reflects the idea that water, abundant and full, symbolizes luck, fertility, and freshness.

Giving fire represents giving away luck and wealth, leading to potential financial loss and bad luck in the new year. Meanwhile, giving water is seen as giving away money. Therefore, in rural areas, families often make sure to fill their water containers, such as barrels or jars, before the new year arrives. This act is believed to invite prosperity as abundant as water in the coming year.

Our ancestors believed that breaking household items like plates, cups, or mirrors on the first day of the year symbolized separation and discord, which is why it was strictly avoided. Older generations often advised their children to be extra careful during these days to avoid breaking dishes or teacups, as it could cause family disharmony or conflict.

Vietnamese people are particularly superstitious about breaking items, especially mirrors, glass, or porcelain, as these are believed to signal bad luck. This belief holds true whether it is during the holiday or regular days. For example, when visiting relatives, friends, or acquaintances for New Year greetings, accidentally breaking something is seen as highly inappropriate and could be considered an omen of misfortune for the family.

In Vietnamese tradition, it is believed that cutting your hair on the first day of the year, or the first day of the month, is bad luck. This superstition stems from ancient beliefs that the first day, known as 'Sốc,' is a sacred time to honor ancestors and a moment when the heavens and earth align, bringing good fortune. Cutting your hair on this day is thought to sever a part of the body, which is seen as cutting off good luck and prosperity for the year ahead. Some people even see this act as a bad omen for their health or career. However, others believe that cutting hair on this day can actually bring good fortune by removing past misfortunes, illness, and bad luck.

On the first few days of the new year, especially the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, families avoid sweeping or disposing of trash because they fear it will sweep away their wealth, luck, and the spring blessings from the house. Folklore suggests that sweeping during these days will lead to poverty, misfortune, and the loss of wealth throughout the year. To avoid such bad omens, it is essential to clean the house before the new year, making sure there is no trash lying around.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it is considered highly unlucky to give away fire to others. This is because fire is associated with good luck and prosperity. Giving fire away on New Year's Day is believed to transfer your luck and good fortune to others, potentially causing bad luck throughout the year, such as business losses, family discord, and unexpected misfortunes. In a household, both fire and water are considered essential for maintaining good fortune and wealth for the family members.

For this reason, giving away fire or water during the first three days of the new year is seen as unfavorable. The belief is that such actions may bring financial difficulties in the upcoming year. However, it is rare for someone to ask for fire or water during the first days of the year.

On the first day of the new year, it is important to avoid lending or borrowing money, collecting debts, or repaying loans. According to traditional beliefs, engaging in financial transactions at the start of the year can result in financial difficulties throughout the year, leaving you with insufficient funds. Lending money to others is believed to cause wealth to scatter, hindering business success and prosperity.

Giving money or valuables to others at the start of the year is considered transferring your good fortune to them, which could lead to financial problems, scarcity, and even debt for the lender throughout the year. Even actions that might seem routine in normal times are viewed with caution and should be avoided during the New Year's period.