Buying a New Car: Why the Salesperson Presses a Red String Into Your Hand

On the floor of the delivery bay a red flower was taped down. The salesperson fished a red string from his pocket, tied it to the rear-view mirror first, then handed me a tangerine: “Safe on the road, great fortune and prosperity.” Taking the tangerine, my first thought was — does every customer get one of these?

Delivery rituals come in many local versions

Dealerships in southern China often give tangerines, taking the pun on “ji” (auspiciousness); in the Minnan region people give pineapple, a pun on “prosperity comes.” In the Taiwan region of China it is common to hang a “safe-travel charm” in the car. Korean drivers mind that a plate number should not contain a 4 — its reading is close to “death.” Turks hang the “blue eye” (nazar boncuğu) on a new car to ward off the “evil eye.” These appear scattered across local folklore materials, with no unified official source.

What all the fuss over plate numbers really is

Avoiding 4, avoiding repeated numbers, favouring consecutive or doubled numbers — the real function of these preferences is “putting the mind at ease.” In fate calculation there is actually not much related to cars; what is discussed more is travel and direction — choosing a day for a long trip, the choice of travel direction. To look at this, the site’s Qi Men Dun Jia is often used for promotion-type matters such as travel, direction and time-space windows.

Cars and “activating luck”

Besides plate numbers and charms, some people schedule their first drive for the morning and circle the city once to “break in the route”; and there is a taboo, on delivery day, against driving to a hospital or a funeral home (a folk saying with no unified source). What actually works in these customs is making people more attentive about putting a new car on the road.

The real “luck” of a new car

To look at travel direction and dates, 占卜迷指’s process is: describe the trip and what worries you → the system recommends a method → it casts the chart, interprets it and exports the result.

Tyre pressure, brakes and seatbelts are more reliable than any charm. Don’t let the charm block your view, and remember to eat the tangerine.

Information current as of October 9, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article covers traditional culture and folklore and is intended for entertainment and self-reflection only. It is not medical, psychological, investment, legal or marriage advice. Do not submit ID numbers, detailed addresses or other sensitive personal information. If you experience persistent insomnia, anxiety or physical discomfort, please see a doctor or consult a professional.

Sources

• Nazar (the blue-eye amulet) (Wikipedia · supplement)
• Hanging a red string and giving tangerines when picking up a new car belong to folk custom, with no unified official source at present (supplementary note)