JANUARY 22, 2025

Talking Points

If You’re Too Busy

Let’s be real: the first few weeks of the calendar year have been a real doozy. 😵‍💫 Between natural disasters and an overwhelming political news cycle, we could all use a little extra good luck right now—which is precisely why the new Lunar New Year couldn’t possibly come at a better time! 🧧 Here, writer Lara Buchar breaks down all the ways you can welcome good luck into your life ahead of Lunar New Year on January 29th, plus a few tips on how to avoid bad luck, too (yes, please!). 🤞

How to Usher in Good Luck for Lunar New Year

For me, Lunar New Year has always felt like the proper reset in my calendar. Unlike the calendar new year that usually leaves me feeling hungover and depressed that the holiday season is over, Lunar New Year has always made me feel invigorated and excited about what’s to come (and not just because of all the lucky money red envelopes I received 🤑).

Many Asian cultures celebrate Lunar New Year differently, but one of my favorite elements of the Chinese New Year traditions that I grew up following has always been the way we usher in good luck. ✨ They’re simple, humble acts that give us hope for the year ahead, and let’s face it, couldn’t we all use a little more good luck right about now? 🍀

✂️ Do: Get a haircut

The act symbolizes shedding off the bad luck and negative energy of your past year and helps you to start the new year ready to welcome in all the good luck coming your way. Plus, it’s considered bad luck to get your haircut in the first month of the Lunar New Year (it’s like “cutting away” all the good fortune the new year has brought you), so it’s best to get a trim early before your ends look outgrown and frazzled (I speak from experience).

🧽 Do: Clean the house 

Cleaning your house is a symbolic way of removing bad luck and energy from the previous year (the word for "dust" in Chinese is a homophone of the word "old"), and making space for good fortune and positive energy. Plus, a clean house makes the space more inviting for the good luck to find you. TBH, the threat of bad luck for the whole year is one of the only things that actually motivates me to clean my house from top to bottom. 🤭

💃 Do: Wear something new and red 

Red is the luckiest color in Chinese culture, and not only does it represent wealth and success, but it’s also believed to scare away evil spirits. Traditionally, Chinese people wear something new and red on Lunar New Year to represent a fresh start and good fortune for the year ahead. No time to shop and no red in your closet? Pop on a little bright red lipstick (it counts!). 💋

🍜 Do: Eat auspiciously

What better way to welcome good luck than to literally eat lucky foods? Food plays a huge role in Lunar New Year celebrations‚ certain dishes and ingredients can be considered lucky because of their names, appearance, or symbolism. For example, the Chinese word for fish is a homophone of the word for “abundance,” and the Chinese word for tangerine sounds like the word for “luck”, which is why both are Lunar New Year staples. 

Longevity noodles (or long-life noodles) are a beloved dish because the extra-long noodles used symbolize a long life, and both spring rolls and dumplings resemble gold bars and ingots, the currency in ancient China. If you aren’t up to the task of making these dishes yourself, in the wise words of Ina Garten, store-bought is fine!

🫂 Do: Gather with loved ones

The reunion dinner is an essential component of Lunar New Year celebrations. It’s a large feast that families eat together (with all of the foods mentioned above, plus many more) that symbolizes family unity, love, and togetherness, and it’s generally considered to be the most important meal of the year. We could all use a little extra time with loved ones right now, and no matter what family you choose to gather with (besties and pups are chosen family, too!), it’s a sweet way to celebrate your shared connections.

🛀 Don’t: Wash your hair

Avoid bathing or washing your hair on Lunar New Year if you can. This “washes” away all that good luck you’ve worked so hard to welcome in!

🗑️ Don’t: Take out the trash 

As much as it was important to clean ahead of the Lunar New Year, it’s equally as important to not clean on the day of Lunar New Year. Particularly avoid sweeping or taking out the trash, as this symbolizes dumping out your good luck.

🤬 Don’t: Have negative conversations

Avoid any conversations about death or sickness on Lunar New Year. This is to avoid attracting any negative energy or misfortune for the year ahead. Especially important: the number four is a homophone of the word “death” in Chinese, so avoid anything to do with the number for the day! 

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IN COLLABORATION WITH

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Snacks

👠 Barbie just unveiled an official Lunar New Year doll for 2025.

🥟 How Domee Shi made a career out of defying her parents’ wishes.

🛍️ Teen Vogue’s list of the best LNY gifts is too damn good.

🐍 Sooo, was Taylor Swift just waiting for the Year of the Snake to finally release reputation (Taylor’s Version)?

🔮 How to navigate this year, according to your Chinese zodiac sign.

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