Superstitions have always been part of human culture, especially in ancient times, long before formal religions were developed. These beliefs have been passed down through generations and even today, they remain an integral part of our traditions.
Since every culture has its own customs, their superstitions significantly differ as well. One of the countries with quite dark superstitions that can send a chill down your spine is China.
Considering that China is among one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the superstitions of Chinese people are quite diverse and interesting. Today, we will discuss 5 of the most intriguing Chinese superstitions that might just change how you look at luck forever.
1. The Number 4
In every country, there is always a number or a group of numbers that are considered to be unlucky. If you know the basics of the Chinese language, you won’t be surprised that for China, it’s number 4. The thing is that in Mandarin, the number 4 is pronounced as the word “death.” Because of this, people try to avoid this number all the time while doing any kind of activity or even during enumeration.
Superstitions and myths surrounding the number 3 extended to various areas of everyday life, including addresses, phone numbers, elevators, and even business transactions. This belief even impacts the way people make decisions in the gambling industry. In fact, most gamblers in China avoid placing bets that involve the number 4 and prefer to search for other ways to improve their odds, such as using casino promo codes that don’t include this digit.
2. Dragons and Phoenixes
In Chinese culture, there are a lot of myths and legends about almighty dragons and phoenixes. In a lot of cases, the stories of these creatures can be twisted but Chinese myths only refer to them positively.
In China, it is thought that dragons and phoenixes represent good luck and abundance in life. That could be why they enjoy tattooing these creatures on their bodies to reflect their symbolism and maybe make sure to attract luck. But be careful, because dragon tattoos can also bring bad luck if placed incorrectly. Some Chinese people even claim that after getting a dragon tattoo, they never found peace again.
3. Cutting Hair on New Year’s Day
Everyone’s New Year’s resolution is different. In some countries, people even perform specific activities right at the time when the New Year starts, including changing their appearance or making an impression at the New Year’s party. Chinese people don’t mind any of those, but one thing is for sure: they absolutely will not cut their hair on New Year’s Day.
The reason is that in China, it is thought that cutting hair on New Year’s Day is bad luck. They believe that by cutting hair you will be losing luck and fortune during the following year. Again, this is related to the pronunciation of the word: “hair” in Chinese sounds similar to “wealth.” Thus, it would be as if you’re cutting your own wealth for the year and in the worst case scenario, cutting short a loved one’s future.
4. Lucky Color Red
In general, the color red is associated with something alarming and troubling. However, the beliefs about red in China are completely the opposite. This color is often used in decorations and clothing, as you can notice in traditional appearances in the past and now. This procedure has its specific reasons.
Chinese people believe that the color red brings good luck. It is a symbol of happiness, fortune, and prosperity. You will often come across this color on Chinese weddings and Lunar New Year. You will notice a lot of red in the houses of the locals as well. In addition, it is a tradition to gift someone a red envelope with money inside, which is a hope for bringing more fortune to that person in the future. That’s why you should think twice before you wear red to scare away ghosts and demons.
5. Cutting Noodles
It is a well-known fact that Italians cringe when someone cuts pasta. Even more — it’s offensive to them. Similarly, Chinese people find it rude if someone cuts noodles, especially while eating in front of them. Besides manners and eating habits, cutting noodles is known to be connected to Chinese superstitions.
Chinese people consider the gesture of cutting noodles as a means of shortening someone else’s life. If you decide to cut your noodles instead of slurping them while eating with Chinese people, they will immediately think negatively of you or maybe even get scared of you. After all, there are legends that people who cut noodles suffered untimely. To avoid this superstition, it is best to eat your noodles without cutting them.
Bottom Line
Like various age-old spooky beliefs, these Chinese superstitions might seem odd to outsiders. As strange as it can be for Chinese people, it is normal to schedule their lives around certain myths to avoid eerie happenings or ominous curses. After all, many who ignored them have lived to regret it.
So, if you ever feel a chill creeping up your spine, perhaps it’s time to start considering these 5 strange superstitions. Who knows, maybe it’ll make a difference, or at least, help you avoid bad luck.
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