Can I wash my hair on the first day of the Lunar New Year? What are the taboos on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

The first day of the lunar calendar is also called the Shuo, so the first day of the New Year is also called the Sanshuo, which means that the year, month and day meet at the same time. Therefore, this day is very special and there are many customs to be followed. So can I wash my hair on New Year’s Day? What other taboos are there?

Can I wash my hair on the first day of the Chinese New Year?

You can’t wash your hair on the first day of the Lunar New Year. There are two reasons for this:

The first theory is that the first and second days of the lunar calendar are the birthdays of the Water God, so you cannot wash your hair on these two days, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the Water God. In the public's perception, water represents wealth, and if you wash your hair, you will wash away the wealth you have accumulated throughout the year.
The second theory comes from Buddhism. Buddhism stipulates that believers should fast, recite scriptures and worship Buddha on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. People should wash and groom themselves before the first day of the lunar month.

What to do if you wash your hair on New Year's Day:
Since you have already washed your hair, just let nature take its course. Washing your hair does not necessarily lead to a loss of wealth, so relaxing is more important than anything else. If you are in a good mood, your wealth will naturally follow.

What are the taboos on New Year’s Day?

1. Avoid breaking bowls, mirrors and other glass or ceramic items on the first day of the Lunar New Year to avoid losing money and fortune. If you really break something accidentally, silently say "break everything, peace be with you" in your heart. Pick it up and leave it for a few days before throwing it away.

2. On the first day of the New Year, you should wait until the other person wakes up before wishing you a happy new year. Otherwise, it is said that this will cause the other person to lie in bed for the whole year.

3. Avoid needle and thread on the first day of the Lunar New Year. It is said that if anyone uses needle and thread on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the eyes of the remaining children will be as small as the holes of a needle. Women are not allowed to use needles and thread, otherwise they will quarrel with others all year round. Be wary of the above.

4. Don’t eat porridge, meat or medicine on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. In ancient times, only the poor could not afford rice and ate porridge. Eating porridge on the first day of the Lunar New Year will lead to poverty for the whole year.

5. It is taboo to kill animals on the first day of the Lunar New Year, so it is not suitable to eat meat. Try not to take medicine on the first day of the New Year. Unless you are seriously ill, it is not suitable for healthy people to take tonic medicine on this day.