In different festivals and solar terms, the customs and taboos of the folk are different, and some things are considered taboo to do. Come to the Chinese Folk Customs and Taboos special topic on Laihua Yi website to take a look.

Sayings and Taboos about Dying in the Twelfth Month

The twelfth month is the year-end festival, a time when all families gather and celebrate joyfully. If someone dies during this time, it's certainly difficult for the family to have a happy Spring Festival. Moreover, in ancient times, there was the concept of mourning, which usually lasted at least seven days, and burial had to be based on the time of day. As a result, some elderly people would even lie in state until after the Spring Festival. This not only is taboo for the living but also not good for the deceased. Because of these issues, even in today's highly civilized society, it is still taboo to die in the twelfth month.

In rural areas, there is a saying "One person does not build two tombs within two years." The ancients emphasized getting rid of the old and welcoming the new, and they valued a fresh start for the new year. Therefore, it is best to bury the deceased in the same year they passed away. If an elderly person died at the end of the year, they were generally buried as soon as possible. If the burial was delayed until the next year, it would be considered unlucky.

Sayings about Dying on the First Day of the Twelfth Month

Saying One: Dying on the First Day of the Twelfth Month is a Good Fate
In some places, there is a saying, "To be born in June, to die in December," meaning that being born in June and dying in December is very good. In the past, the funeral customs in rural areas were complicated and full of rituals. From the moment the elderly person passed away, there were procedures such as keeping the body in a coffin, building a tomb, weeping, burying, and rounding the tomb, which took at least three days. If the weather was unsuitable for burial for several consecutive days, it might take up to a week. In the cold winter, there was no need to worry about preserving the body. Moreover, winter is a busy season for farming, and it was easier to find people to help with the burial, unlike during the busy farming season when it was inconvenient to ask for help. In the eyes of the elderly, dying in December was also considered a way to reduce trouble for their descendants.

Saying Two: Dying on the First Day of the Twelfth Month is Not Good
The twelfth month is the last month of the lunar calendar, and at this time, people are busy buying New Year goods and cleaning the house, preparing to celebrate the New Year happily. If someone passes away, it is natural for the family to feel sad, and the New Year may be overshadowed by sorrow. Moreover, in ancient times, people were very poor, and especially in the twelfth month, they were even poorer. If someone in the family passed away, they could not afford the cost of burial, which would lead to the descendants being criticized for not being filial. Therefore, some elderly people in rural areas said, "It's afraid to die in the twelfth month."