The first day of the Lunar New Year, the opening day of the traditional Chinese New Year, is filled with a strong atmosphere of auspiciousness and good luck. On this day, people follow ancient customs and taboos in the hope of welcoming a year of happiness and prosperity.
Why the emphasis on waking up early? This is to welcome the first rays of sunshine of the new year, symbolizing good luck and hope for the new year. In addition, waking up early also leaves plenty of time for people to prepare for various New Year's events, such as New Year's greetings, ancestor worship, and reunion dinners.
When it comes to the taboos of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the following ten points are worth remembering:
Avoid sweeping or dumping garbage to avoid taking away good luck and fortune.
Be cautious and avoid breaking items, as this may be a sign of broken wealth or misfortune.
Avoid saying unlucky words such as "death", "sickness", "poverty", etc., so as not to invite bad luck.
Avoid lending money to others, as this can mean a loss of financial fortune.
Do not rush others to get out of bed, as this may symbolize the urge of poverty and misfortune.
Try to avoid porridge or medicine, as this may be a sign of poverty or illness throughout the year.
Give up napping, as this may be a sign that you will look lazy and mindless throughout the year.
Suspend laundry because the birthday of the god of water falls on the first day of the new year, so avoid contact with water.
Do not shave your head for the time being, because shaving your head may lead to the bad omen of "dead uncle".
Avoid hitting and scolding your child, as this can make your child's life unpleasant throughout the year.
Although these taboos may no longer be strictly followed in modern society, they are still an important part of traditional Chinese culture, reflecting people's good wishes and expectations for the New Year. Here, I wish you all a prosperous Year of the Dragon, all the best and good luck!