招好運過年習俗
在陰雨濛濛的日子裡，有一隻可愛的小兔子已經蠢蠢欲動，準備上工拉! 在中華文化中，兔子一直被認為是瑞獸，既聰明靈敏又溫順可愛。在民間的傳說中，屬兔的人以及逢迎兔年可以步步登高；因兔兒前肢短、後肢長而有力，利於上攀而拙於下降。2023的兔年又逢 “雙春”之年，就是有兩個立春節，分別是2023 的2月4日( 農曆正月14) 和 2024 年的2月4日 (農曆的臘月25) 可謂雙喜臨門。那要怎麼在兔年將吉祥富貴的儀式感融入生活? 好湯慢慢在此陪大家一起溫習初一至初六的傳統習俗，讓您兔年有個好彩頭、福祿雙全。
大年初一：穿新衣戴新帽、走春拜年
古書《瑞應圖》記載: 『赤兔大瑞，白兔中端』。成語中也有『人中龍鳳、馬中赤兔』。可見紅色的兔子是難得的祥瑞之兆。現實中雖然很難見到紅色的兔子，但可在兔年穿上紅色的新衣討個好寓意。除了穿新衣，許多人會一大早去廟裡或佛寺參拜，祈求新年如意，並去親朋好友家走春拜年，分享過年的喜悅。
大年初二迎婿日：出嫁女回娘家
年初二是開年，出嫁女兒要帶著夫婿、兒女返回娘家拜年，一起吃開年飯。傳統上有個說法是用餐的時間選在中午最為吉利。而回娘家所準備的禮物傳統上稱為「回門禮」。回門禮的目的是為了讓娘家的親人明白女兒出嫁後生活幸福，而回門禮的數量以雙數為佳，象徵雙雙對對、好事成雙。
大年初三：老鼠娶新娘，早睡早起悠閒過一天
一路忙到初三你累了嗎? 古早的諺語說: 「初一早、初二早、初三睡甲飽。」代表到了初三大家都需要放鬆休養生息，也就是睡到自然醒啦 ^_^ 初三也是老鼠嫁女兒的日子，傳統習俗會在牆角老鼠經過的地方灑一些米、鹽，除了祝賀老鼠娶親也象徵新的一年會豐收。為了不打擾老鼠辦喜事，要早早上床就寢。如果睡前注意聽的話，可能會聽到老鼠迎親的歡聲笑語及樂聲喔!
大年初四: 準備周到迎眾神
大年初四是迎接眾神回到人間的日子，通常下午一點到三點左右，家家戶戶都會在自家的廚房擺供桌，放滿三牲四果，迎接灶神及諸神明一起回來守護家宅。拜完可以開一下瓦斯爐，象徵灶神歸位。供品最好要備有甜食；相傳灶神喜愛甜食，由此可討灶神歡喜，保佑家宅平安。
大年初五：迎財神、開工日
年節期間禁忌的事情，如打掃、吵架、丟垃圾…等問題，過了這一天就都解禁了。媽媽們是不是很開心終於可以罵小孩了呀? XD 而過年累積的垃圾可以在初五這天倒掉，稱為倒「窮氣」。初五也是財神爺的生日，許多人相信在初五拜財神可以獲得滿滿福氣與財富。部分店家與公司行號也會在初五開工，象徵開工順利，也就是要準備收心上班啦 ^_^
初六習俗：店家開始營業，大放鞭炮共襄盛舉
農民以往會在初六開始犁田，準備春耕。而傳統的黃曆也顯示初六宜「開市」。因此許多商店餐廳會在初六正式營業，而且要大放鞭炮共襄盛舉，期盼開工大吉。除了初五倒垃圾以外，初六也會繼續把過年期間的垃圾丟乾淨，稱作送窮。
看完了新年的傳統與習俗，您是不是也被這些習俗蘊藏的文化與深度所吸引? 所有財富中，健康無疑是最珍貴的。好湯慢慢願用營養的料理、健康的美食守護您的健康。
New Year Tradition
During the rainy season, a cute rabbit is moving rapidly, ready to start working! In Chinese culture, rabbit is an auspicious animal, both intelligent and tamed. In folklore, people born in the year of rabbit or people who celebrated the year of the rabbit will gain wealth throughout the year; as the rabbit’s front legs are short, and hind legs are long and strong, it is great for moving upward. 2023 year of the rabbit is also a year with two spring festivals, which are February 4th, 2023 and February 4th, 2024. What a great year with double the prosperity. How should we celebrate the year of the rabbit? Broth Inc. would like to review the tradition of the new year with you, wishing you a great progress in both luck and health in the upcoming rabbit year.
1st day of the Chinese New Year: Wear new clothes and visit temple
Written in ancient literature, “Red rabbit brings great luck; white rabbit brings good luck.” Idiom also has a saying, “To become the greatest of men is to be a horse of red rabbit like stature.” We can see that red colored rabbit is viewed very highly. While we won’t see red colored rabbit, we can however wear red new clothes during the year of rabbit to match the atmosphere. Besides wearing new clothes, many people will visit temple to wish for a great year and visit relative right after to share the joy of the new year.
2nd day of the Chinese New Year: Married daughter returning to parents’ home
The 2nd day is considered the starting of the new year. Married daughter will bring their husband and children back to her parents’ home to wish happy new year. Tradition recommended lunch time is the best time for the family meal. The gift for the daughter’s parents is also known as “The gift of returning home.” The gift is meant to signify that the daughter is very happy after getting married. It is best the number of gift is an even number, to represent that the pairing (of the daughter and her husband) is meant for each other.
3rd day of the Chinese New Year: Rat marries new wife and enjoys a relaxing day
After two days of busy work, are you tired? There is an old saying, “first day wakes up early, second day wakes early, but third day sleeps until fully awake.” Third day is a day for rest, so it is best to sleep until naturally awake. Third day is also the day of the rat marrying a new wife. In tradition, everywhere the rat goes through will spread a little bit of rice and salt; not only was it meant to welcome the new wife, it also signify a new year of great harvest. In order not to bother the rat’s happy day, you should sleep early as well. If you listen carefully, you may hear the rat’s laugh and music as it welcomes its new wife.
4th day of the Chinese New Year: Preparing for return of the Gods
The 4th day of the new year is the day to welcome the Gods as they return to the human realm. From 1 PM to 3 PM, every household will setup a table for the offering. The table will fill with three meats and four fruits to welcome the different Gods to come and protect the household. You can also turn on the stove to represent the Gods setting in. The offering should be something sweet, because the Gods like sweet food, and will protect the family if they are happy.
5th day of the Chinese New Year: Welcoming the God of Wealth and the start of the work year
There are things that are prohibited during the new year, such as cleaning, arguing, and throwing away trash. After the 5th day, however, the restriction is lifted. Mothers must be relieved now they can teach the naughty kids a lesson? New year trash can be thrown on the 5th day, as it refers as “throwing away the feeling of being poor.” The 5th day is also the birthday for the God of Wealth, so many people believe celebrating the God of Wealth this day will bring in great luck and wealth. Many stores and companies will open on the 5th day, signifying that the business is great again for the new year.
6th day of the Chinese New Year: Stores returning to business with big fireworks
Farmers start working on the field on the 6th day as they prepare for the seeding in spring. In the traditional calendar, the 6th day is the day of opening business. Many stores and restaurants will formally open for customers on the 6th day, with firework to celebrate the occasion. The 6th day will continue to throw away all the remaining trash, to ensure that any feeling of being poor will be sent away.
After reading all the new year traditions, do you feel like you are attracted to the culture? While you are celebrating great wealth, don’t forget that your health is the most important thing. Broth Inc. has all the ingredients and foods to protect your health as you celebrate the Chinese new year. We wish you good luck in the year of the rabbit!