Why can't you go back to your parents' home on March 3rd? Reveal the taboo of not going back to your parents' home on March 3rd

According to folk customs, you cannot go back to your mother's home on the third day of the third lunar month. So, why can’t we go back to our parents’ home on March 3rd? Let’s find out together.

Why can't I go back to my parents' home on March 3rd?

Women avoid evil days

March 3rd is a traditional festival for the Han ethnic group and many ethnic minorities, which falls on the third day of the third month in the lunar calendar. It was called Shangsi Festival in ancient times. According to legend, March 3rd is the birthday of Emperor Huangdi. There is a saying in ancient China that "On February 2nd, the dragon raises its head; on March 3rd, Xuanyuan is born." Moreover, March 3rd is one of the four traditional ghost festivals, so it is also said that women should not go out casually on this day. The reason why you can’t go back to your parents’ home on March 3rd is also related to this. It is said that the third day of March is an “evil day” and should be avoided.

Folk legends

Legend has it that March 3rd is the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West. She held a peach banquet in heaven and all the gods were invited to attend, so the gates of hell were opened. The underworld and the world of the living begin to communicate, and the souls underground return to their own homes. Married women cannot wash clothes or throw dirty water on this day, for fear of splashing the water on their returning ghost relatives. They cannot go back to their parents' home, for fear that the ghosts in the underworld will mistake you for an unmarried girl and find you another husband, thus hurting your husband.