Written Exercise 35-Taboos of the Chinese Lunar New Year
This morning, I corrected someone's post/exercise on here, which says that there is a superstition of not doing laundry on New Year's Day in England. This reminded me that we have some taoos for the Chinese Lunar New Year.
In China, there are some taoos of the Chinese Lunar New Year in the area where I live. People should avoid doing laundry, sweeping the floor, throwing garbage,saying something with the words "die,death" , washing hair, having a hair cut and even taking a shower on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
In ancient times, people did not have washing machines and had to wash clothes with their hands. That was hard work and toilsome. People hoped having an easy life all year around. So ancient people did not wash clothes on that day.
It was said that sweeping the floor in the house and throwing garbage will sweep away and throw away good fortune from the houses. Washing hair, having a hair cut and taking a shower will also wash away and cut away the good fortune of ours.
Local people follow the traditions and do as it said. We hid the besoms, mops and dustpans in a corner of the house where we can not see easily. We have hair cut and wash hair before the Eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. For me, I can follow the above taboos but taking a shower. I take showers every day no matter the first day or the second day of the Lunar New Year.