Lunar New Year is full of customs to bring good luck and keep bad fortune away. Families eat special foods, decorate with red, and follow strict taboos. Some foods must be avoided. Pears sound like “separation,” so they are skipped. Persimmons, though lucky, are bad on New Year’s Eve since 'Shi' sounds like death. White foods like cold tofu salads are out, as white means mourning. However, darker tofu dishes are fine. A popular custom hides a clean coin in one dumpling among many. The finder is said to gain great wealth and luck. Fish is always served but never finished. The word for fish means “surplus,” so leaving some symbolizes ongoing fortune. Certain words are forbidden for their negative meanings. Death, pain, and ghost are not spoken. The number four is skipped as it sounds like 'death' in Chinese. People use gentle phrases like “they are gone” instead of death. Even 'books' are avoided because it sounds like “to lose.” Gifts must also be chosen carefully. Clocks and watches are taboo because 'giving a clock' means attending a funeral. Sharp items like knives risk 'cutting off' relationships. Shoes are avoided as the word sounds like 'bad luck.' A cherished tradition is hanging the character Fu, meaning “blessing,” upside down to say “fortune has arrived.” This dates back to a Ming dynasty story where an upside-down Fu saved a family from execution, showing how clever customs bring good fortune.