On the first day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, it marks the beginning of the year, the beginning of spring, and the first day of the first lunar month, hence it is called "San Yuan". As it is the beginning of the year, the month, and the day, it is also referred to as "San Zhao". Additionally, since it is the first day of the lunar year, it is called "Yuan Shuo". So, what are the customs and traditions associated with the first day of the Lunar New Year? Let's take a look!

Opening the door with firecrackers

On the morning of the Spring Festival, it's considered auspicious to set off firecrackers before opening the door, known as "opening the door with firecrackers." Setting off three firecrackers is called "First on the List for the Three Degrees in Succession "; setting off four is called "Fu (good fortune), Lu (prosperity), Shou (longevity), and Xi (happiness)"; setting off five is called "Five Blessings at the Door"; setting off six is called "Smooth Sailing in All Things"...

After the sound of firecrackers, red paper scraps cover the ground, creating a vibrant scene known as "a floor full of red." At this moment, the streets are filled with auspiciousness, and everyone greets each other with a hearty "Happy New Year," marking the beginning of the new year.

Drinking Tusu wine

Drinking Tusu wine is a traditional custom in ancient China. On the first day of the year, families would drink Tusu wine together to dispel any lingering negative energies. The manner of drinking Tusu wine in ancient times was quite unique. Normally, when drinking alcohol, the eldest would be the first to drink, but with Tusu wine, it was the opposite. The youngest would start drinking first. Perhaps it symbolized the growth of the young ones, celebrating their progress, while the older ones were reminded of the passing years, drinking later to bid farewell to the past year.

Eating sticky rice cake

Eating sticky rice cake (niangao) on the first day of the Lunar New Year is a tradition among the Chinese, symbolizing continuous growth and prosperity. Sticky rice cake comes in square-shaped yellow and white varieties, symbolizing gold and silver respectively, with the hope for wealth and prosperity in the new year.

Eating dumplings

Eating dumplings on Lunar New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year is a tradition observed by people in the northern regions, although nowadays many southerners also partake in this custom. Eating dumplings on New Year's Eve symbolizes the transition from the old year to the new, while eating them on the first day of the Lunar New Year is believed to bring good luck for the entire year.

Eating Tangyuan

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, eating Tangyuan symbolizes having everything go smoothly and the family being harmonious and happy. On this day, Tangyuan is not called "Tangyuan" but "Yuanbao," and eating Tangyuan is referred to as "getting Yuanbao (money)."

Paying a New Year Call

"Paying a New Year Call" is an important activity during the Spring Festival, where people go to friends' and relatives' homes to offer New Year's greetings. It is a traditional custom in Chinese folk culture, representing the transition from the old to the new year and expressing good wishes to each other.

A New Year Call usually begins at home. On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, after the younger generation wakes up, they first pay their respects to the elders, wishing them good health and longevity, and expressing hopes for everything to go smoothly. After receiving the blessings from the elders, the elders distribute "lucky money" prepared in advance to the younger generation. After paying respects to the elders at home, people then go out to visit others to offer New Year's greetings.

Divining the year

"Divining the year" is an ancient folk practice used to predict the year's harvest by observing the weather in the first few days of the lunar New Year. Its origins can be traced back to "Sui Zhan" by Dongfang Shuo in the Eastern Han Dynasty, which assigns an animal to each day after the New Year: the first day corresponds to the Rooster, the second day to the Dog, the third day to the Pig, the fourth day to the Sheep, the fifth day to the Ox, the sixth day to the Horse, the seventh day to Humans, and the eighth day to Grains.

If the weather on a particular day is sunny, it is believed that the corresponding animal's breeding will prosper; however, if it is overcast, the prospects for that animal are less favorable. This practice evolved over time, and later generations believed that clear weather from the first to the tenth day of the lunar New Year was auspicious, indicating a year without wind or snow. Over time, "Divining the year" developed into a series of rituals and celebrations, including customs like not killing chickens on the first day, not killing dogs on the second day, not killing pigs on the third day, and so on, with the tradition of refraining from carrying out executions on the seventh day.

Giving Lucky Money

Giving children Lucky Money during the Lunar New Year is a traditional custom in China. These lucky money is filled with blessings from elders to the younger generation. In China, there are various folk stories about the origin of "Lucky Money." One widely circulated story involves a demon named "Sui," who had a black body and white hands. It was believed that Sui would come out on New Year's Eve to harm children. To protect their children from harm, people would stay up all night, keeping the lights on and placing copper coins under their children's pillows to ward off evil spirits. This practice became known as "shou sui" (guarding against Sui) or "ya sui" (pressing Sui down), and later evolved into the tradition of "shou sui" (staying up late) and "ya sui qian" (lucky money).

No killing, No sweeping

During the Lunar New Year, there are many customary practices, commonly known as "New Year's taboos," that people adhere to. This is because the first month of the lunar calendar is seen as an indication of the year's fortunes, so there are many taboos observed during this time.

For example, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, it's taboo to take life, as killing is believed to bring about disasters such as accidents, warfare, or bloodshed. Additionally, on the first day of the first lunar month, one should not use a broom, as it is thought to sweep away good luck and invite financial losses. If sweeping is absolutely necessary, it should be done from the outside of the house towards the inside. Breaking furniture during the New Year is also discouraged, as it is considered an omen of bankruptcy. If something is broken, it's customary to quickly say "Sui Sui Ping An" or "Luo Di Kai Hua, Fu Gui Rong Hua" to ward off misfortune and invite prosperity.

Translator: TANG Yuxin

Reviewer: BAI Jing