Chinese New Year: Superstition Explanations

Here are the promised explanations, re, the Chinese New Year (Friday, Jan. 31) advice I ran two days ago, based on ancient superstitions, per the International Business Times:

1. House Cleaning before New Year: Sweeping and cleaning should be done before New Year's Day, to remove bad luck from the house. It is also believed that before New Year's Eve, cleaning equipment like brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and others should be put away.
2. No Cutting: Chinese believe that nothing should be cut on the New Year as it will reflect on one's life and fortune.
3. Use of Firecrackers: Bursting firecrackers on New Year's Eve is one way the Chinese send out the old year and welcome the new one. Also, it is believed that there was a half-dragon, half-lion monster called "Nian." The creature would come down from the mountains and scare humans every year. So when people discovered that the beast abhorred uproarious commotions, they chose to beat it with the clamor from sparklers.
4. Guarding Parents: On New Year's night children are expected to sleep late. It is believed that sleeping late is related to guarding parents' life. The later the children sleep, the more years their guardians will live.
5. Broken Crockery: One should not start the New Year with broken crockery as it is considered to be bad luck.
6. No Ghost Stories: Chinese believe that whatever happens on the first day of the year will happen for the rest of the year. Using foul language, unlucky words or saying anything awful about others are taboo on the first day. Ghost stories generally talk about death, spirits and negative power, so children as well as elders are forbidden from telling ghost stories.
7. No Washing Hair: Washing hair on New Year's Day is considered as bad luck, because people believe that hair-washing sweeps away good luck for the New Year.
8. No Black Clothes: According to Chinese custom, black is related to death and bad luck, so they avoid wearing black clothes on the first day of the year.
9. No Crying: It is believed that if you cry on New Year's Day you will cry throughout the year. That is why children are not punished on the first day of the year.
10. Red is Good: Splendid red attire, beautifications and adornments are recommended for the Chinese New Year. Youngsters receive cash in red paper envelopes from parents who wish them a cheerful New Year. Red paper-cuts and couplets of favorable luck or bliss are utilized to brighten the family unit.

– International Business Times (http://www.ibtimes.co.in)