#我在Gate广场过新年 Today is the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. What are some customs and taboos?

The sixth day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the "Horse Day" or "Sending Away Poverty Day," is an important day in traditional Spring Festival celebrations. Here are some customs and taboos:

Customs (Practices):

1. Sending Away the Poverty God: This is the core tradition of the sixth day. People thoroughly clean out accumulated trash and clutter from their homes, symbolizing sending away bad luck, misfortune, and worries, and welcoming good fortune. Some places also burn old clothes or paper money to symbolize sending away the year's misfortunes.
2. Auspicious Business Opening: Many merchants and shops choose to open for business on this day, believing that the number six signifies smoothness and is suitable for starting new ventures. During the opening, firecrackers are set off and couplets with "Auspicious Business Opening" are posted, praying for prosperous business and a steady flow of customers.
3. Going Out and Outing: As the saying goes, "Three six nine, go out in the morning," the sixth day is suitable for going out. People visit relatives and friends or go on outings, symbolizing success and smooth sailing. If the travel route is planned in a circular shape, it is also believed to bring good luck and "great fortune."
4. Eating Auspicious Foods: Different regions have various dietary customs, such as eating pancakes to send away bad luck; eating noodles to symbolize smooth progress; eating dumplings to attract wealth; some areas also eat "Six-Flavor Cake" or "Donkey Rolling," expressing good wishes for the new year.
5. Clean and Welcome the New Year: It is advisable to bathe, change clothes, and tidy up the home to greet the new year with a fresh look, symbolizing washing away the fatigue of the old year and opening a new chapter.

Taboos:

1. Avoid Debt and Borrowing: The sixth day of the first lunar month is considered the day when the God of Wealth arrives. Borrowing money or debt is believed to potentially cause financial outflow or conflicts, affecting wealth and relationships in the new year.
2. Avoid Quarreling and Harsh Words: Family harmony is a key theme on this day. Quarreling, scolding, or speaking inauspicious words (such as "break," "damage," "poverty") are believed to disrupt harmony, bring bad luck, and affect the year's fortune.
3. Avoid Using Needles, Thread, Knives, and Scissors: Traditional beliefs hold that sharp tools like needles, scissors, and knives may "cut off wealth" or cause trouble. Ordinary tasks like cutting vegetables are fine, but large cutting or sewing activities should be avoided.
4. Avoid Wearing Old or Torn Clothes: Wearing torn or ragged clothes is believed to attract poverty. On this day, it is better to wear neat, festive new clothes, symbolizing a fresh start.
5. Avoid Accumulating Trash: On the Sending Away Poverty Day, trash should be disposed of promptly; leaving it until the next day is believed to retain bad luck and block good fortune.
6. Avoid Killing Animals: Some regions believe that killing animals on this day is inauspicious and may bring bloodshed or disasters. It is recommended to eat vegetarian or prepared ingredients in advance.
7. Avoid Sleeping Late: There is a saying, "If you don't get up on the sixth day, you'll be lazy all year," suggesting that waking early helps welcome the God of Wealth and avoid inviting laziness into the home.

These customs and taboos reflect people's hopes for a prosperous and harmonious new year. They aim to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, fostering harmony and smoothness to achieve a life of abundance and health. As times change, some customs have become more relaxed, but their cultural significance is still cherished by many.