New Year celebrations are always good for business. The act of celebrating, even modestly, costs some money. And as sometimes you have to spend money to make money Chinese New Year is filled with superstitions that revolve around gaining wealth.

So if you want to join in, as good luck can go a long way, here are some guidelines as to what to do and what not to do during Chinese New Year which started January 23.

1. Clean Before the New Year Starts;

The Chinese New Year lasts technically 15 days in the country and 7 days in the city. So if you are a neat nut, hopefully you cleaned up before Monday.

2. Do Not Clean after New Year Has Begun:

Put your feet up and relax. Certainly the most enjoyable of the Chinese New Year superstitions, sweeping and cleaning is strictly forbidden. The Chinese believe cleaning means you’ll sweep all of your good luck out the front door.

3. Balance the Books

If you’re in debt, it’s time to dip into your pockets and pay people off. The Chinese believe that if you start the New Year in the red, you’ll finish it the same way.

4. Know your Chinese Homonyms.

Buying books and shoes are bad as their sound alike words are words for “lose” and “rough” respectively. Don’t say the number ‘four’ (Chinese homonym for death) or mention death. On the positive side, a whole fish is as good as gold as the word for fish “yu”, is a homophone of “surplus” and “abundance”. It must be whole to symbolize completeness and good fortune.

5. Don’t cut or wash your hair.

The not washing your hair applies to the first three days of the New Year, because the Chinese word for hair is a homonym for the Chinese word for wealth

6. Wear Brand New Clothes.

And wear red as it scares away evil spirits and bad fortune and ensures a bright future. Black and white should not be worn as black symbolizes bad luck, and white is a Chinese funeral color. People dress in all new clothes and shoes to symbolize a new beginning for the New Year.

7. Don’t Drop Your Chopsticks.

8. Eat Sweets and Round Things.

The tradition stemmed in the belief that eating the sweet stuff is said to deliver a sweeter year spans many cultures. Mandarins and Tangerines bring good luck. Almond cookies resemble coins, and since dumplings are rounded, they can symbolize a family reunion as well as wealth and prosperity.

9. Don’t Borrow or Lend Money.

10. Make Some Noise

The firecrackers and other loud goings on scare the bad luck demons away.

Now here is some general advice about how to go about the whole Dragon Year. Dragon years always encourage growth and change. This year is not the time to play it safe. It’s time to explore new frontiers in love, career and life. Coincidentally it is also a Leap Year.  This Dragon Year’s element is water and water years emphasize polite negotiation, so any adventures should be undertaken in a diplomatic and civil way.

Innovative leaders will reap great rewards during this Chinese New Year. Calculated risks are heavily favored. Dragons are often seen as hot tempered and those that won’t suffer fools gladly. Another way to see this is that dragons wish to encourage those not living up to their abilities to raise the bar. Sometimes this encouragement comes in the form of gentle consistent nudges and sometimes it is that of a shrill no-nonsense drill sergeant.  It’s good advice to parallel dragon behavior in a Dragon Year, so if you sense that an organization or relationship has grown stale, promote positive changes. Don’t let naysayers shoot you down. Remain upbeat and optimistic with your suggestions.

As water is a mutable element it’s effect on the dragon is to emphasize kindness, the more consideration extended during a Water Dragon year, the more rewards you will reap. Think in terms of what’s best for the group or most beneficial for a relationship. Anyone considering getting married or starting a business is in luck, beginnings in Dragon years are sudden, passionate, and dramatic. The Year of the Water Dragon favors new endeavors of all kinds!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Madison Who’s Who publishes articles and information that will be of interest to the members of the Madison Who’s Who Directory, which consists of a vast and varied list of business professionals and academics.