On the evening of the 30th, the Vietnamese people began to prepare. This festival is considered the most important ritual of the year as it marks the farewell to the old year and the hope for a better new year.
Therefore, according to the beliefs of the ancients, on this day, everyone in the house must be careful with their words, actions, and behavior to help make the new year more lucky and successful.
1 What should be avoided on New Year’s Eve? Top 9 things not to do
Avoid saying unlucky words on New Year’s Eve
On the last day of the year, the ancients were extremely superstitious about words expressing scarcity such as “no more” or “not needed”. So at the last meal of the year, if someone in your family serves you food and you don’t want to eat, you can say “I already have it” or “I have too much already”.
Furthermore, avoid talking about unlucky things such as illness, loss, or defeat.
Avoid arguing on New Year’s Eve
During the New Year’s Eve worship, family members should also avoid arguing or raising their voices at each other because according to the ancients, it shows a lack of agreement, and the ancestors will no longer protect your family. Tet is a happy day, so don’t make the Tet atmosphere sad because of misunderstandings or conflicts within the family.
Avoid breaking objects or making loud noises
The ancients believed that if you break objects or make loud noises on New Year’s Eve, it will easily awaken demons and make the whole year troublesome and not smooth.
Avoid looking in the mirror
On New Year’s Eve, it is not advisable to look in the mirror because it is believed that looking in the mirror will easily make you see demons and make the new year no longer joyful.
Avoid pouring smelly oil
The oil from lamps or machines should not be poured out if it has a foul odor because the foul odor of the oil, if it overpowers the fragrant smell of incense and alcohol, will easily awaken demons and bring disasters.
In addition to the above taboos, many people believe that before worshiping on New Year’s Eve, the family must be complete, with all family members present, to express the desire for family unity and happiness in the new year. Otherwise, there will be many unfavorable things.
Avoid drying clothes on New Year’s Eve
According to feng shui experts, before transitioning from the old year to the new year, everything needs to be cleaned. Drying clothes on New Year’s Eve can lead to some unfortunate and hidden bad things, which can hinder the luck in the new year.
Avoid drying clothes on New Year’s Eve
Avoid throwing out trash from the house
Feng shui experts believe that throwing out trash on New Year’s Eve will get rid of bad things and affect the fate of the gods, making them dissatisfied. This is not auspicious. Therefore, throwing out trash will make the new year not as smooth as expected.
Avoid throwing out trash from the house
Avoid holding scissors
According to feng shui experts, holding scissors on the last day before the new year will bring bad luck. Therefore, you should limit holding scissors or keep them to a minimum, except in urgent cases.
Avoid holding scissors
Avoid eating hastily on New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, you should eat solemnly and joyfully with your family, enjoying the moment of transition from the old year to the new year. Avoid eating and drinking in haste because it will affect your luck in the new year.
Avoid eating hastily on New Year’s Eve
2 What to do on New Year’s Eve
What to do on New Year’s Eve
Just like before New Year’s Eve, on New Year’s Eve, you also need to be very cautious. Let’s go over the things you should do on New Year’s Eve:
- Perform the New Year’s Eve worship at midnight on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month.
- The homeowner should open all doors, from windows to doors, to welcome good things and drive away negativity.
- Place a broom outside at the moment of New Year’s Eve to drive away bad luck and negative energy from the house.
- Wear new and brightly colored clothes to attract luck, good fortune, wealth, and prosperity.
However, with the modern lifestyle today, these beliefs are almost nonexistent because now people think that these are outdated beliefs that are no longer suitable for modern times. On New Year’s Eve, families often gather to watch fireworks and welcome the new year together.
Master Feng Shui warns: “Building a house with 2 doors, both the door and the people will be in distress, avoid calamity”
The entrance to a house is the place where prosperity gathers and welcomes fortune into the family. Therefore, ancient people paid great attention to the construction of doors and gates. Feng shui never advocates for building two large doors or gates as it inadvertently disperses the wealth and luck of the family.