Shandong Culture

Culture Insider: Traditional Spring Festival customs

(Chinaculture.org) Updated: 2017-01-22

Culture Insider: Traditional Spring Festival customs

[Photo/Xinhua]

 

Day 3 of the 1st month

On the third day, an old saying goes: "A fat pig at the door", meaning the arrival of good luck and happiness.

Traditionally, the third day is known as "Chigou's Day". Chigou literally means "red dog", an epithet of "the God of Blazing Wrath", and it is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting.

Folklore says the 3rd day is also "rat marriage day" (Chinese: lao shu qu qin), so people often go to bed earlier to give rats time for their wedding.