Breaking a mirror or a bowl should be avoided at a wedding in Taizhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Taboos usually originated from superstition. Families with a newly deceased member would use other words to refer to “death”. On sneezing or hearing the crows, one would shout “eliminating all troubles” to shed off the bad luck. Pregnant women were avoided in the bridal chamber. Breaking a mirror or a bowl should be avoided at a wedding. The uneven burning candles should be avoided in the bridal chamber. Paper with characters on should not be used as toilet paper.

In the coastal areas, fish eyes should not be touched while eating fish. The fish should not be turned over while eating fish on boats. The word “turn” should not be said during sailing. Women were avoided on the fishing boats at sea.

Many taboos have been eliminated nowadays but they are not totally extinct. Quite a few people have superstitious beliefs.