On the seventh day of the first lunar month, that is, the seventh day of the new year, people celebrate the Renri Festival. The festival has its roots in ancient times and has been passed down for thousands of years. According to traditional customs, there are some taboos on the seventh day of the first lunar month, known as "eight don'ts", to ensure a safe and smooth new year.
First of all, people should not go out to visit relatives and friends, because there is a saying: "Seven do not come out, eight do not return", which means that going out on this day may invite bad luck. It is also a way of life that the ancients followed, hoping to ensure the stability and happiness of the family. This statement is related to the "seven no-outs" of the seven necessities of life, including firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea, which are all essential items in life, and the lack of any of them will affect the livelihood of the family.
In addition, there is a saying that the seventh day of the first lunar month is the "Seven Evil Days", which is considered an unlucky day, so you should also avoid going out to avoid inviting calamity. This belief was quite common in ancient times, and people treated these taboos with caution for family peace and personal happiness.
In the past, the pursuit of a stable lifestyle made them cautious about moving. Moving is seen as a sign of instability and is therefore considered taboo on the seventh day of the first lunar month and throughout the month. They believe that the place where they have lived for a long time has accumulated popularity, and if they move, they may destroy this aura and bring bad luck. The ancients generally believed that the climate of the first month was cold and not suitable for moving, so it was recommended to wait until the weather was mild and choose an auspicious day before moving.
In addition, the ancients also attached great importance to the attitude towards children. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the day known as the "villain", according to tradition, not only should children not be scolded, but they should also show respect and love. This tradition is rooted in respect for Nuwa Niangniang, who is considered the creator of humanity. It gradually evolved into a habit of not scolding and not quarrelling, embodying the values of respect and harmony.
In ancient societies, not only the common people, but also the government followed similar traditions. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the government usually does not carry out the death penalty, which is seen as respecting and protecting people. Quarrels and quarrels are believed to affect an individual's luck, so on this day, it is especially necessary to avoid disputes with others in order to maintain a calm state of mind and a harmonious social atmosphere.
In various parts of Shandong, there is a custom called "sending the god of fire" on the seventh day of the first lunar month. Parents would light wooden sticks about two meters long, called "Vulcan", and children would run around with Vulcan until the fire was extinguished. In ancient times, people believed that fire had the effect of driving away evil spirits and avoiding evil, so sending the god of fire also symbolized the exorcism of bad luck. In addition, it is believed that sending the god of fire away can avoid fires in the home.
In order to show respect for the god of fire, people stipulate that it is not advisable to wash items on the seventh day of the first month, so as not to collide with the god of fire and invite bad luck.
In addition, the diet on the seventh day of the first lunar month is also particular. People are taboo to eat blood-based foods such as cow blood, duck blood, etc., as it is considered a bad omen. Instead, people prefer to eat Shippo Soup, a dish made with seven ingredients that signifies the seven stars shining brightly and a good sign for a prosperous new year. In addition, some places also worship the consumption of noodles on the seventh day of the first lunar month, because the long noodles symbolize longevity and peace.
Contraindications on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year: It is best to avoid needlework activities on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. Because needlework requires the use of sharp tools, if this type of activity is performed on this day, it can symbolize conflicts throughout the year. And being busy sewing things at the beginning of the Spring Festival may affect your financial luck throughout the year. Therefore, the most taboo thing on the seventh day of the first month is to carry out needlework activities.
There is another explanation for the statement that needlework is not done. In the past, women were busy with housework and sewing clothes all year round, and in order to take a break in the New Year, everyone agreed on the rule of not doing needlework on the seventh day of the new year.