Can I go back to my parents' home on the 15th day of the first lunar month? Different places have different opinions.

Can I go back to my parents’ home on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month? The fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year is China's traditional festival - Lantern Festival. There are many etiquette and customs on this day. Next, let’s take a look at what the saying is about returning to one’s parents’ home on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Can I go back to my parents' home on the 15th day of the first lunar month?

Statement 1

As to whether one can go back to one’s parents’ home on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, different places have different opinions. In some places, it is believed that if a married girl returns to her parents' home on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it will be unfavorable to her father-in-law. In fact, the specific explanation is that in ancient times, the father-in-law was the head of the family. When his daughter came back from her husband's family to visit him, if she stayed for too long, the girl's parents would think about whether her husband's family treated her well. At this time, the girl's family would blame the head of the man's family, that is, the father-in-law.

Explanation 2

There is a folk saying that you should not look at the lanterns at your parents' home on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. This is also called "hiding from lanterns", which means you cannot go back to your parents' home to celebrate the first lunar month. The custom of "hiding from lanterns" on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was originally a traditional custom of the Manchus. At first, it was said that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, one should not look at the lanterns at one's parents' home, that is, a married daughter-in-law could not stay at her parents' home during the Lantern Festival. Later, it evolved into not being able to look at the lanterns at one's parents' home or at one's husband's home, and one had to hide at one's relatives' homes. Later, this custom was also spread to the Han nationality.

Explanation 3

Another saying is that a newly married daughter cannot celebrate the Lantern Festival at her husband's home on the 15th day of the first lunar month, but must celebrate it at her parents' home. This custom is called "hiding from lanterns." Generally, her parents' home will hold a grand lantern-sending ceremony for her family, and then her husband's family will receive the lanterns. The new bride will go to her parents' home with her family to "hide from lanterns" (generally leaving on the 14th day of the first lunar month and returning on the 16th). It is said that this is meant to guide the newlywed daughter-in-law to give birth to a son soon.