Is it true that you shouldn't take a bath in the first month?
Generally speaking, people do not take a bath from the first to the third day of the first lunar month. However, it's okay to take a bath on other days.According to folk traditions, the first to third days of the first lunar month are the birthday of "Fire God". Families offer sacrifices to the "Fire God", who is said to be afraid of water. Even pouring or splashing water is considered inappropriate! Another belief suggests that taking a bath might wash away good fortune, but this is just a superstitious idea. It doesn't matter if you take a bath. Because it's the birthday of the Water God, bathing during these days may be seen as disrespectful, so elders advise us not to bathe during this period. After the first three days of the first month, it's fine again. However, you should still pay attention to the timing. Due to the cold winter weather, it's best to take a bath when there is sunlight during the day, and not too late.
Is it true that you cannot get married in the first month?
There is a saying in the folk that marriage is not allowed in the first month. However, there is no scientific basis for this.It is believed that getting married in the first month is unlucky. In ancient times, there was a saying called "Red Head", meaning that if a man and woman get married in the first month, they will have bad luck because of the "Year God" being above their heads, which is not beneficial for their children. Therefore, few couples get married in the first month. Getting married in the first month is not festive, as the first month was a time for ghost marriages in old times. Since the underworld also has holidays in the first month, all the spirits can come to the world of the living.
It is said that you should not get married in the first month, nor should you engage in the twelfth month, as it would prevent the couple from growing old together. Generally, people do not get married in the first month of the lunar calendar, nor in the twelfth month, because marrying in the twelfth month could affect the parents, and marrying in the twelfth month could affect the future family, so the wedding day is not a good one.
Festivals from the first to the third day of the first lunar month
First day of the first lunar month:On the first day of the first lunar month, people greet each other. The term "year" was officially used in the Zhou Dynasty, and the character "year" was formally established as the beginning of the year in the Han Dynasty. The first day of the first month is commonly known as "three origins," also called "three courts" or "Yuan Shuo." It is also referred to as "Shang Ri," "San Shuo," and "San Shi." On the morning of the first day, people open the door to welcome the New Year, first set off "door firecrackers," after which the red paper pieces are scattered on the ground, known as "full hall of red."
Second day of the first lunar month:
The most important thing on the second day of the first lunar month is returning to the parents' home. Daughters who have married will bring their husbands and children back to their parents' home to pay respects, hence it is called "the day of welcoming the son-in-law." On this day, the daughters returning to their parents' home must bring some gifts and red envelopes to give to their younger cousins, and have lunch at their parents' home, but must return to their husband's home before dinner.
Third day of the first lunar month:
The third day of the first lunar month is called "Small New Year's Day" or "Red Dog Day." According to legend, Red Dog is a god of anger, and those who meet him will have bad luck. Hence, the third day is considered an inauspicious day, and it is not advisable to go out. It is said that if you greet someone on the third day, you will quarrel with them, so people avoid greeting others. Additionally, the word "red" implies poverty, so Chinese people do not host guests on this day.
