Can I go back to my parents' home on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year? Taboos on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year

Going back to one's parents' home is also called visiting one's parents' home in northern China. It is a very distinctive seasonal custom of the Han nationality. On the second and third days of the first lunar month every year, married daughters have to return to their parents' home. So can they return to their parents' home on the fifth day of the first lunar month?

Can I go back to my parents' home on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year?

You cannot go back to your parents’ home on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and you are forbidden to visit other relatives.

According to folk customs, the fifth day of the first lunar month is called "Po Wu". During this period, no raw rice can be used for cooking and women are not allowed to go out. Not visiting neighbors on the fifth day of the first lunar month is actually to avoid seeing the God of Poverty, that is, the young wife. In some places, it is simply called "Send the poor wife out on the fifth day and welcome the God of Wealth." In fact, it was a kind of disrespect for women in ancient times. In addition, elderly people are reluctant to visit relatives and friends on this day, and are not allowed to visit other people's homes, saying that visiting relatives will bring bad luck to other people's homes.

In addition, this day is quite busy with welcoming gods and offering sacrifices, so the older generation would suggest that married daughters stay at their husband's home to help and entertain guests. In short, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year is a relatively special festival, and it also carries everyone's hopes and aspirations. Therefore, there were many taboos on this day in ancient times, and therefore it is not recommended to go back to one's parents' home to visit relatives.

Taboos on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year

1. Set off firecrackers

On the fifth day of the New Year, every household sets off firecrackers. People set off firecrackers from every house while walking out the door. The meaning is to blast away all the unlucky things, all the demons and monsters, and keep them as far away from us as possible. The farther the better. Especially setting off "double-kick firecrackers" is called "collapse of poverty", which can blow away the "bad luck" and "poverty" from the house.

2. Make sure to clear the trash

It is imperative to clean up the garbage created during the New Year, which is called "sending away poverty", otherwise it will bring poverty. Send the stove ash and garbage from the house out of the door, then set off firecrackers to drive away evil spirits. It means sending away poverty and welcoming wealth and happiness in the new year.

3. Don’t do things

According to old customs, it is not advisable to do anything on the fifth day of the New Year, otherwise you will suffer financial losses in the year. During the “Five Busy Days”, no earthwork is allowed, otherwise disasters may occur. In the past, people in both the north and the south were taboo against eating lotus roots and combing their hair. But these are all superstitious beliefs.

4. Avoid visiting other people’s homes

"Yanjing Sui Shi Ji" said: The fifth day of the lunar month is called "Po Wu". During "Po Wu", no raw rice can be used for cooking and women are not allowed to go out. On the sixth day, princesses, noble ladies, eunuchs and others came and went in their attire and congratulated each other. Newly married women also returned home on the same day, and merchants gradually resumed their trade. "Qing Bi Lei Chao" also records: The fifth day of the first lunar month is called "Po Wu", and women are not allowed to go out.