Seven things you shouldn't do on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The origin and legend of the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The Chinese New Year has a long history, originating from the worship of gods and ancestors at the beginning and end of the year during the Shang Dynasty. During the Chinese New Year, various activities are held all over the country to celebrate, and there are many rules that everyone must follow during the Chinese New Year.

Seven things you shouldn’t do on New Year’s Day

1. Can’t go back to your parents’ home

Generally, daughters choose to return to their parents’ home on the second, third or fourth day of the Chinese New Year. Returning on the first day of the Chinese New Year means that the family will go bankrupt.

2. No needlework

Using a knife or scissors is considered to cut off one's career and financial prospects. Women should not use needles and thread, otherwise they will quarrel with others all year round or feel uncomfortable as if they have thorns all over their body. As the saying goes, "If you use knives and scissors on the first day of the new year, quarrels and disputes are inevitable."

3. Don’t rummage through boxes and cabinets

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, you absolutely cannot rummage through your drawers or cabinets, as it is said that bad things will come out.

4. Don’t say unlucky words

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people will ask children to be careful with their words and not to say unlucky words, such as "beat, kill, die, poor, ghost, etc.". However, just in case, many families will choose to post red paper stickers with the words "Children's words are safe" to ward off evil.

5. No quarreling or swearing

Quarreling in the first month of the year will ruin your fortune for the whole year, and swearing will bring disaster, so you should try to avoid quarreling with others in the first month of the year.

6. Unable to see a doctor or take medicine

Seeing a doctor and taking medicine in the first month of the year indicates that you will be sick throughout the year, and will be plagued by illness from beginning to end and have to take medicine continuously.

7. You cannot collect debts at your home

People believe that it is unlucky to collect debts during the New Year, so creditors are not allowed to come to collect debts during the New Year. At the same time, you cannot take things out of other people's pockets. If you let others take things out of your pockets, you may be in danger of losing your entire pocket for the whole year.

The Origin and Legend of the First Day of the Lunar New Year

The first day of the Chinese New Year is derived from the "Nian Beast";

According to legend, there was a monster called "Nian" in ancient times. It had tentacles on its head and was extremely ferocious. The Nian beast lived in the deep sea for a long time and would only crawl onto the shore on New Year's Eve every year to devour livestock and hurt people. Therefore, on New Year's Eve, almost all the people in the village would go to the mountains for refuge. However, due to the high and steep mountains, the Nian beast could not climb up.

Once, an old woman did not have time to go up the mountain because of her inconvenient legs and feet. At this time, the ferocious Nian beast came, opened its bloody mouth, and rushed towards the old woman. Suddenly, a Taoist priest came out, lit a string of "gunpowder" wrapped in red paper, and threw it directly on the Nian beast. Suddenly, red flames appeared. After the Nian beast came into contact with the fire, it trembled all over, let out a strange cry, and fled into the sea, and there was no movement anymore.

Early the next morning (New Year's Day), people returned one after another. After hearing the news, every family set off firecrackers, lit red candles, and posted couplets. From then on, the Nian monster never dared to make trouble again. Early in the morning of New Year's Day, people would visit relatives and friends to congratulate them. As the legend of the Nian beast spread further and further, the Spring Festival became the most important traditional festival among the Chinese people.