Customs from the First to the Fifteenth Day of the First Lunar Month
On the first day of the first lunar month, brooms must not be used, lest they sweep away good fortune and bring financial loss. If sweeping is absolutely necessary, it must be done from the outside in. Do not empty trash; instead, prepare a large bucket for waste water and do not pour it outside that day.During the New Year, one must not break furniture, as this portends bankruptcy. If broken, one must immediately say, "May the year be peaceful and free from misfortune" or "May it blossom upon landing, bringing wealth and honor." Sharp objects like knives and scissors should not be handled to avoid injury, as bloodshed is considered inauspicious. Well water should not be drawn, as wells are believed to house well spirits. Drawing water on the first day may anger the spirit and bring disaster.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, married daughters return to their natal homes, accompanied by their husbands, hence it's commonly called "Welcoming the Son-in-Law Day." Returning daughters must bring gifts and red envelopes for the children at their natal home and stay for lunch, but must return to their marital home before dinner. In the past, families would also choose this day to take a family portrait.
On the third day of the first lunar month, traditional Han Chinese customs include burning paper offerings for the door gods and avoiding rice consumption on the grain day. People generally refrain from visiting relatives to pay New Year's greetings on this day due to the belief in "red mouth" (赤口), hoping to avoid arguments and disputes. To prevent attracting gossip and trouble, everyone stays home to worship the gods instead of visiting friends and relatives.If one must go out to pay respects, they may carry a talisman pouch to ward off verbal disputes.
The fourth day of the first lunar month marks the return of the gods from heaven to earth. The saying goes, "Send the gods early, welcome them late"—meaning the gods should be sent off at dawn, while welcoming them back in the afternoon is still acceptable. Offerings must include the three sacrificial animals, fruits, wine, and dishes, along with burning incense, candles, and gold paper.If an employer wishes to dismiss an employee, they should not invite them to participate in the deity worship on this day. From the first to the fourth day of the first lunar month, shops close for business, and women refrain from sewing. The fifth day of the first lunar month is commonly known as "Breaking the Fifth." Many taboos observed before this day in Han Chinese customs may be broken thereafter. Following old traditions, people eat "water dumplings" for five days; in northern regions, these are called "boiled buns."Nowadays, some families eat them for only three or two days, others every other day, but none skip the custom entirely. This practice extends from noble mansions to humble households, even when entertaining guests. Women no longer avoid going out and begin visiting each other to exchange New Year greetings and congratulations. Newlywed brides return to their parents' home on this day.Some say that undertaking tasks on the fifth day is inauspicious, as it may bring misfortune throughout the year. Beyond these taboos, the customs of the fifth day primarily involve sending away poverty, welcoming wealth, and reopening markets. These traditions embody the Han Chinese laboring people's aspirations to ward off evil, avert disasters, and pray for blessings. On the sixth day of the first lunar month, shops and restaurants officially reopen for business, accompanied by a grand display of firecrackers rivaling the scale of New Year's Eve celebrations.Legend holds that boys turning twelve are most celebrated on this day, as twelve is twice six—symbolizing smooth sailing in all endeavors. Households discard accumulated holiday trash, symbolically banishing poverty.According to the Book of Divination, the order of creation from the first day of the month is: "First the rooster, second the dog, third the pig, fourth the sheep, fifth the ox, sixth the horse, seventh the human, eighth the grain." Thus, the seventh day is designated as Human Day. On this day, Hong Kong residents traditionally eat Jidi congee, symbolizing the aspiration for academic success and the attainment of top honors in imperial examinations. Human Day calls for respect toward all individuals; even government authorities refrain from executing criminals on this day, and parents avoid disciplining their children.
The eighth day of the first lunar month is Grain Day, traditionally believed to be the birthday of millet. Also known as the Festival of Aligning with the Stars, it marks the day when all celestial bodies descend to earth, making the sky's constellations most complete. Clear skies on this day foretell a bountiful rice harvest, while overcast skies predict a poor harvest. Many businesses open on this day, primarily for the homophone "fa" (发), meaning "prosperity," wishing for thriving trade and wealth throughout the year.
The ninth day of the first lunar month is commonly known as the Heavenly Emperor's Birthday, one of the traditional Han Chinese lunar festivals. It marks the birthday of the Jade Emperor, the supreme deity of the celestial realm. As the ruler of the heavens, he commands all gods within the Three Realms and all spirits on earth, representing the supreme authority of the heavens.On this day, Han Chinese customs call for women to prepare incense, flowers, candles, and vegetarian offerings. These are placed in open areas like courtyards or alleyways to worship the heavens, seeking blessings from the Heavenly Emperor. This practice embodies the Han laboring people's aspirations to ward off evil, avert disasters, and pray for good fortune.
The tenth day of the first lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of stones. On this day, stone tools like grinding stones and millstones must remain untouched, and some even perform rituals to honor stones. In places like Yuncheng, Shandong, there is a tradition of carrying the Stone God.On the night of the ninth day, people freeze an earthenware jar onto a smooth boulder. At dawn on the tenth, ten young men take turns carrying the jar by its spout, tied with a rope. If the stone never touches the ground, it foretells a bountiful harvest that year.The leftover food from the ninth day's celebration of the "Heavenly Emperor's Birthday" is consumed throughout the tenth day, with plenty remaining. Thus, the maternal family need not incur additional expenses to entertain the son-in-law and daughter, a custom folk songs refer to as "inviting the son-in-law on the eleventh."