Everyone’s wearing red today - here’s one reason you might want to avoid it
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
You may see a fair few people walking about today donning the colour red.
And no, it's not a coincidence, as today (17 February) marks the start of the Lunar New Year, as we leave behind the Year of the Snake and officially kick off the Year of the Horse.
There are a bunch of beautiful traditions associated with the occasion, which is widely considered the most important event of the year in China and Chinese communities around the world.
Such traditions include prep work to get sorted before the big day, like having a big clean and sort out in order to rid your home of any bad luck that may have accumulated over the past year.
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This continues into the New Year, with some people staying away from sweeping or taking out the bins for the first five days of the New Year due to the belief they will clear away all that fresh good luck.
But what's with the red clothing tradition?
Now, people started wearing red to mark the Lunar New Year because of the myth of Nian.
Legend has it that on every Lunar New Year’s Eve, a savage sea beast named Nian would drag itself ashore, all teeth and horns, and terrorise a nearby village.
One year, as everyone fled for cover, a mysterious old man appeared and refused to leave, brushing off warnings of certain disaster.
By morning, the village was untouched and, funnily enough, so was the man.
He said he’d driven Nian off with red banners hung across his door, firecrackers blazing and bright red clothes on his back.
That, apparently, did the trick, and it's why red outfits, scarlet banners, and the crackle of fireworks still define Lunar New Year celebrations today.
So, why might you want to avoid red despite so many wearing the colour?
One woman named Rachel, whose handle is @foodierrachel, who hails from Canada and Hong Kong, has issued some advice on the matter.
Taking to social media, she explained that 2026 is not only the Year of the Horse, as it is specifically the Year of the Fire Horse, meaning that fire and the colour red are already 'at its peak' this year.
Therefore, wearing red could allegedly tip the scales too far in one direction.
"I know everyone's telling you that red is THE lucky colour, especially in Asian cultures, but you need to know that 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. Fire is already at its peak, so if you wear red, it's almost like you're adding gasoline to the fire. It could lead to burnout, bad tempers, and arguments," she said.
Rachel then listed several colours you can wear instead to balance out the fire and 'stay lucky' in the New Year.
"To stay lucky this year, you will need to balance out the heat. For example, this year it's actually recommended to wear earth or wood colours. Think earth tones like beige, cream, or brown, to ground the energy. Or you can do wood tones like sage or forest green to keep the fire stable," she shared.
Rachel's warning sparked quite a divide in the 3.6 million viewers who watched her video, with some totally disagreeing while others couldn't have agreed more.
"Come to China and look around right now, *that* is what everyone is wearing. How on Earth would the colour of wood and leaves 'balance' any fire, instead of being consumed by it?" questioned one Instagram user.
A second chimed in: "I have genuinely never heard of this before. Red is red and red is lucky."
"That’s literally what my mum told me, minimise red," defended another, and a final viewer echoed: "Thank you, I was going to cover myself in RED."
Rachel's advice appears to be directly at odds with the guidance on China Highlights, which states that red clothes are a 'must'.
"One common practice with regard to clothes that can still be witnessed today to a somewhat large extent is the use of the colour red. As is probably already very well-known, red is the top Chinese lucky colour and represents strength and prosperity," the website states.
However, it does outline that you should not wear black.
"Never wear clothes in black during the Chinese New Year because they are typically worn during funerals. The colour has been associated with death. It is considered to be unlucky," China Highlights warns.