Collective "sky bathing"
In Nujiang Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province (southwest China), every New Year, men, women and children of the Lizu ethnic group will dress up, bring dry food and tents to the hot springs on the Nujiang River to bathe. They believe this is a way to wash away illness, disaster, bad luck and welcome the new year.
New Year's Eve dinner by last name
Most Chinese people have the custom of gathering together to eat a New Year's Eve meal, also known as a reunion meal, the moment of transition between the old year and the new lunar year.
However, in many rural areas of Hubei Province, the time for eating the New Year's Eve meal varies depending on each family's surname. Those with the surname Wang start family gatherings around 5am on New Year's Day; those with the surname Gao usually hold a party around 12pm; those with the surname Yang can only hold a party after 12am...
To leave dumplings
Dumplings are one of the indispensable traditional dishes in important Chinese holidays. On the occasion of the New Year, each family will often make a lot of dumplings to have leftovers, when eating, they will only eat the middle part and leave the edges, implying that the new year will be prosperous, with excess wealth and good health.
New Year's Eve is too late
For the Tujia people in Xiangxi, Hunan Province (central China), New Year's Eve on the 30th day of the 12th lunar month is too late. People here have the custom of welcoming the New Year 1-2 days earlier, even 6-7 days, depending on the family name of each family.
Don't go out on the third day of Tet
According to Chinese folk beliefs, the third day of the Lunar New Year is an unlucky day, so people often avoid going out on this day. However, today, the streets of China on the third day of the Lunar New Year are still very bustling because young people believe that this is just an ancient concept and should not be avoided.
No knives or forks
In many parts of China, it is customary to not use needles or scissors during the Lunar New Year, to avoid having the “flow of money” cut off. In some places, people even avoid using knives. If you need to prepare food, you should do it before the first day of the new year.
Hua Yu (Source: Sohu)
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