As in any culture, there are age-old traditions and superstitions that few people still actually follow, but they're fun to know just the same. Listed below are some dos and don'ts related to Spring Festival:

Since everyone is in a festive mood during Spring Festival, people shouldn't argue and parents shouldn't scold or punish their children. Otherwise, you will have many more arguments during the New Year.

Women shouldn't use a knife or shears in the kitchen, because it indicates anger, resulting in the cutting off of good luck.

Breaking a dish plate, bowel or cup means bad financial luck will follow.

A married woman needs to visit her mother's home, otherwise her mother's family will grow poorer.

To sweep the floor or dump the trash on New Year's Day will also sweep away the wealth and luck from the home.

Don't take a noonday nap, otherwise family members will be lazy all year long.

If you wash your hair on New Year's Day, you will wash your good luck away.

Don't wear black or white while visiting friends, because black and white are funeral colors in China.

People shouldn't visit a friend's house if the friend has had a family member pass away recently.

Don't eat rice porridge for morning breakfast, otherwise you won't get rich (in past times, only poor people ate rice porridge).

Don't eat meat at morning breakfast, because many of the gods are vegetarians and arrive at New Year's Day festival in the morning.

Don't wake a person in the morning by calling their name, otherwise that person will need another person's push all year long.

Don't take any unnecessary medicine; otherwise you will become unhealthy in the New Year.

Don't wash clothes, because New Year's Day is the birthday of the god of Water.

If someone owes you money, do not ask for the money back on this day. Otherwise, you will have to request money from that person all year long.

So there you have it. Remember, most Chinese people you'll meet will be familiar with these taboos, but few probably take them too seriously. Yet it's good to be aware of them just in case you're spending the holidays with some traditional friends!