Can I travel far away on the first day of the Lunar New Year? What are the customs on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

When it comes to the Chinese New Year, the most important thing is to post couplets and set off firecrackers on New Year's Eve, but apart from that, people also have to visit other people's homes to wish them a happy new year on the first day of the New Year. However, some people say that you cannot travel far on the first day of the New Year. So can I travel far away on New Year’s Day?

Can I travel far away on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

Since ancient times, people do not go out on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year is a comprehensive festival shared by humans, ghosts, and gods. New Year's Eve is when descendants invite their deceased ancestors home to celebrate the New Year together, and they worship gods and offer sacrifices. During the time of sacrifice, people cannot go out far away. It is impolite for descendants to leave their ancestors at home. There is a saying that goes, "On the first day of the Lunar New Year, after the second and third days, I'll come to wish everyone a happy new year." Therefore, it is generally not allowed to travel far on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

However, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone will visit each other to wish each other a happy new year. In theory, people can go out. However, in some places, the custom is that people do not go out on the first day of the Lunar New Year and do not welcome others to their homes. Elderly people do not go out on this day, as it is said that going out will "leave wealth and blessings behind". Only when the elders stay at home can the family enjoy both wealth and blessings in the coming year. Generally speaking, the younger generation must visit the elders' homes to pay New Year's greetings to show their filial piety, while married daughters have to wait until the second day of the new year to return to their parents' home.

What are the customs on New Year’s Day?

1. Worship God

Every year, people queue up in temples for more than ten or twenty hours, just to be the first to burn incense on the first day of the new year, to get the first fortune of the new year, and to pray for themselves and their families for a smooth and safe year.

2. Greetings and asking for New Year's money

On the first day of the New Year, children will run to their elders and greet their grandparents, father and mother obediently. At this time, the elders will show a kind smile and give the younger generations the red envelopes they have prepared long ago. This red envelope also has a special name "lucky money". New Year’s money is filled with elders’ blessings and wishes for the younger generations. In folk culture, lucky money symbolizes warding off evil spirits and blessing peace.

3. Drink "Yuanbao Tea"

In Shaoxing, Zhejiang, there is a custom of going to a teahouse to drink "yuanbao tea" on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The so-called "yuanbao tea" means that the tea used here is of a higher grade than usual, and a "kumquat" or "green olive" is added to the teacup at home to refer to "yuanbao", symbolizing "yuanbao coming in, making you rich and prosperous" in the new year. Secondly, there is a "yuanbao" cut out of red paper pasted on the teacup, which roughly means "attracting wealth and treasure."

4. Fireworks to welcome the New Year

The celebrations on the first day of the Lunar New Year begin at 12 a.m. People will reunite with their families on New Year's Eve, watch the Spring Festival Gala, play cards and stay up late to welcome the arrival of the Lunar New Year, and at midnight, light firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the arrival of the new year.

5. Opening firecrackers

On the morning of the first day of the New Year, before having breakfast, people will set off firecrackers to wish for "good luck in the new year", so it is also called "opening firecrackers". After bursts of firecrackers, the ground is covered with red fragments, as bright as brocade, which is called "Mantanghong". At this time, the streets were full of auspiciousness and joy. When fellow villagers and neighbors meet each other, they say "Happy New Year", and the new year begins.

6. Vegetarianism

After the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner with plenty of fish and meat, the whole family has to eat vegetarian food for the first meal of the New Year. It comes from the fact that "斋" (fast) and "惧" (disaster) are homophones, and eating vegetarian food also means "eating disasters", which means "eating away" all kinds of disasters in the new year and blessing the family with peace and safety.

7. Do not kill or sweep

During every Spring Festival, there are many established customs to be followed, commonly known as annual taboos. Because the first month of the year is the beginning of the year, people often regard it as a sign of fortune for the new year, so there are many "taboos" during the New Year.