THE CUSTOM OF NOT SWEEPING THE FLOOR ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR
Caller: We have been advised by old folks not to sweep or dispose of rubbish on the first day of Lunar New Year. As Buddhist practitioners, is this something we should pay attention to?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s indeed a custom; but from a feng shui perspective, if you can perform kind deeds on the first day of Lunar New Year, good tidings will come knocking at your door throughout the year and vice versa.
It’s said that on the first day of Lunar New Year, we should view everything in the house as treasures. It’s alright to sweep the floor but you must sweep it towards the house, and not outward. Furthermore, you are not supposed to remove the rubbish from your home because if you do so, you are akin to discarding your home treasures, and you may end up having no treasure or money for the rest of the year.
Caller: There seems to be a belief that we are not supposed to wash our hair too.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right, do not shave your head or wash your hair.
Caller: Alright. Thank you, Master.
Source: Wenda20130208 01:11:52, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program