Can I go back to my parents' home on the fourth day of the first lunar month? What are the rules for going back to my parents' home?

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, married daughters bring their husbands and children back to their parents' home to pay New Year's greetings, so many people choose to go back on this day, but according to some rural customs, it is not appropriate to go out on this day. So can I go back to my parents’ home on the fourth day of the first lunar month? What are the rules for going back to your parents’ home?

Can I go back to my parents' home on the fourth day of the first lunar month?

You can go back to your parents’ home on the second day of the first lunar month;

In northern China, it is also known as visiting one’s mother’s home, which is a very distinctive Chinese seasonal custom. Every year on the second, third and fourth day of the first lunar month, married daughters from all over China return to their parents' homes and their husbands go with them, so it is commonly known as the Welcoming the Son-in-Law Day. However, there is a saying in some areas that people do not go out on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. There is a folk saying that the fourth day of the first lunar month is the day when the Kitchen God returns from heaven to the people to "check the household registration". Every household must stay at home on this day, prepare rich fruits, burn incense, light candles and set off firecrackers to welcome him, so it is not appropriate to leave the house.

What are the rules for returning to your parents' home?

1. If a married daughter returns to her parents' home during the Chinese New Year, her parents will go bankrupt due to overeating. Therefore, she can only return on the second or third day of the New Year. However, the implication is that a married daughter is now someone else's daughter-in-law. During the Chinese New Year, there will be many people coming to her husband's house to pay New Year's greetings, and the daughter-in-law has to help serve tea. Therefore, she cannot return on the first day of the New Year.

2. When a daughter returns to her parents’ home, she brings gifts to show her filial piety to her parents. The gifts should be in pairs and not in singles.

3. The banquet is usually held at noon. It is taboo to stay until dark for dinner to prevent the bride’s family from being eaten out of money.

4. In the past agricultural society, the souvenirs brought home by daughters were often things produced by their husband's family, such as chickens or homemade wine. However, these things were usually inconvenient to carry, so they were often replaced with cakes or sugar.