7 Traditional Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals that Might Surprise You
By
Renée Tse
Date January 20, 2017
We may have welcomed year 2017 less than a month ago, but millions of others (me included) will be getting another opportunity to ring in the New Year comes Saturday January 28th.
Chinese New Year is a time when you gather with your families and enjoy traditional festivities that includes lion dances, big feasts and lucky pocket exchanges while celebrating the year’s zodiac animal (FYI, it’s the Year of the Rooster). But before the clock strikes midnight, a lot of preparation and superstition-based rituals happen before the first day of the lunar calendar.
It’s a well-known fact that the annual lunar holiday is a prime time for retail. It’s due to the fact that during this 15-day festival, the Chinese are in complete spending mode—and with good reason. Little did you know, part of the New Year tradition is to find ways to bring good fortune for the rest of the year and that includes buying new clothes and/or working a new look.
Unfortunately, many of these traditional practices are forgotten and are no longer followed to a tee. So as a big believer in keeping with these traditions, I’ve compiled a guide to understanding six pre-Chinese New Year fashion and beauty rituals you ought to know about. Because celebrating Chinese New Year or not, anyone can get on board with these “new year, new me” customs, especially when it involves mandatory shopping this weekend.
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Buy new clothes
It’s considered bad luck to wear old, tattered clothing on New Year’s, which means a new piece of clothing is in order. It’s also frowned upon to wear black or white on this day, as these shades are associated with death. Instead, opt for pops of lucky hues like red and gold in your look (emphasis on pops because no one wants to see a walking lucky red pocket).
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Wash your hair and get a haircut
It is considered bad luck to cut anything (or even wash your hair) during Chinese New Year because in the Chinese language, hair (fa 髮) has the same pronunciation as fortune (fa cai 發財). So it’s believed that getting a haircut and washing your hair beforehand will help cut away the bad luck. Choose a shampoo that will strip oils from your hair, so you can go an extra day or two.
Live Clean Fresh Water Hydrating Shampoo ($11, walmart.ca)
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Sleep in new pyjamas
It is said to bring good luck when you wear new pyjamas to bed the night before, so you can ultimately enter into the New Year in a new look.
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
That includes undergarments
Just like pyjamas, wearing new lingerie to bed the night before is considered lucky because it helps ward off misfortune. It’s also the perfect way to reel in the good luck for those who are not about wearing red on the exterior.
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Walk in a new pair of shoes
Purchase a pair of shoes, preferably in red, so you can step into the New Year on the right foot towards a prosperous year.
*Note: Do not gift or receive a pair of shoes as this alludes to the fact that you want to “step on them” (figuratively) in terms of social status.
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in “Insaisissable"
($42, chanel.com)
Put your best face forward with a red lip…
A red lip never fails to brighten up your face. So comes New Year, sporting a red lip will not only up your confidence level, but also call in the good spirits, leading to good fortune.
Chinese New Year Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Cafuné Mini Basket Bucket in “Oxblood”
($534, ca-fune.com)
And a new bag in tow
Purchasing a new bag isn’t traditional per se. However, all the children and single ladies (me!) need something to hold all those lucky red pockets we’ll be receiving during the holidays, so we might as well tote around a new red bag, right?
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