Bathing, washing, and laundry are daily activities. However, according to the elders, these activities should be temporarily suspended during the Lunar New Year. Therefore, according to the customs of the ancients, on the 30th day of the Lunar New Year, no matter how cold it is, the whole family takes a bath to cleanse themselves, to remove bad luck from their bodies, and to make it convenient for the 3-day period of abstaining from washing and bathing during the Lunar New Year.
Why shouldn’t we wash clothes?
According to the belief of the ancients, the new year should be spent in leisure and relaxation in order to enjoy blessings throughout the year. Moreover, doing laundry is considered a waste of good luck at the beginning of the year. At the beginning of the year, it is better to attract wealth into the house without getting rid of anything.
Doing laundry is more important because it requires water. And according to the beliefs of our ancestors, water is very important. Water symbolizes wealth, so if we wash and make the water dirty at the beginning of the year, it means wasting and losing money. Therefore, washing clothes on the 1st and 2nd mornings is like pouring water away, wasting wealth, and consuming resources. Therefore, if the clothes are dirty, it is better to leave them and wash them later.
In addition, according to folk beliefs, the 1st and 2nd days of the Lunar New Year are the birthdays of the Water God. Therefore, doing laundry is considered disrespectful to the Water God and may bring bad luck. It can also anger the gods and waste the water resources corresponding to the loss of wealth for the family throughout the year. Therefore, on the 1st day, it is advisable to avoid using too much water, avoid wasting water, and avoid sad or loss-related matters.
Water is extremely important in feng shui, so respecting the Water God is also respecting one’s own assets, helping to preserve wealth and fortune. Therefore, on the Water God’s birthday, our ancestors did not want to pollute the water to show respect and hopes for a year filled with abundant water and wealth.
Avoid cutting hair, nails, or anything to be discarded
Our ancestors forbade any “cutting” during the New Year. Cutting nails or cutting hair signifies throwing away, cutting off a part of one’s own body. Therefore, it signifies bad luck for the coming year. Therefore, our ancestors strictly advised against cutting hair or nails during the Lunar New Year. Violating this rule may bring bad luck, easily lead to illness, and cause financial loss due to unnecessary expenses. Our ancestors believed that hair represents a person’s corner while fingernails represent one’s fortune. Therefore, cutting hair or nails during the first few days of the year was considered extremely unlucky.
Our ancestors particularly valued the little finger nails as they symbolize wealth and prosperity. Therefore, our ancestors never cut their fingernails during Tet.
Avoid washing hair
Bathing and washing are regular activities, but they should be limited on the first day of the new year. Bathing and washing are similar to doing laundry and cutting hair or nails. Doing so is considered a bad omen for the Water God’s birthday, as it would dirty the water and disturb the Water God. Moreover, it would waste the water in the family, and water symbolizes wealth, so it is better not to waste or consume too much water on the first day of the new year to preserve the family’s assets.
These taboos and beliefs of our ancestors may or may not have a basis, and no one can prove them. However, they are customs passed down from generation to generation. Folk traditions are believed to have rules, be divine and divine, so the above activities can be postponed. Therefore, you can refer to them to avoid psychological turmoil and to not affect the harmony and beliefs of those in your family who follow these taboos.
The information provided is for reference and contemplation purposes only.
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