Is It Bad Luck to Use a Hammer During Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year, depending on who you ask) is steeped in traditions, rituals, and, of course, superstitions. Growing up, my family was all about following these customs. It was like an unspoken rule that certain things could only be done before or after the big day—and, yes, there are rules around the hammer.
Using a hammer during Lunar New Year is a big no-no. Why? Because it’s believed that hitting anything with a hammer can “strike” bad luck or bad fortune into the new year. Not the best way to start fresh.
But now that I’m older, I’ve come to realize that, while traditions are something to appreciate, I’m not exactly tied to every single one. Take, for example, my new desk. It arrived on the second day of Lunar New Year, and I was all ready to get to work on putting it together. Yeah, I might’ve had a little internal debate about whether this would bring some cosmic misfortune, but at the end of the day, I’m me.
So, I busted out the hammer and got to assembling. No regrets.
Sure, I still follow some of these rituals like hanging decorations, giving red envelopes, and saying “gung hay faht choy” to everyone because it’s nice to have a connection to culture and family, but there’s something to be said for not letting them rule your every move.
Here’s to a new year filled with luck, but also a little freedom. Happy Day 2 of Lunar New Year!