Korean Superstition of Don’t Bathe on New Year’s Day
Seollal starts tomorrow with Lunar New Year being on Friday. So I thought I’d post a public service warning, of sorts, about not bathing on New Year’s day.
Put that soap down!
You could be washing your luck away…at least according to a Korean superstition that says you shouldn’t bathe or shower on New Year’s day.
And here I thought it’d be good to start a new year clean and fresh!
But my question is, what if you have bad luck? Does that mean you could wash the bad luck away or would you just be washing away the last remnants of good luck you might have? 🤔
Origins
I couldn’t find any information on the origins of this superstition! And it’s not just a Korean superstition. Apparently many cultures, including the Chinese, hold this superstition. Many take it a step further and say that you shouldn’t sweep your floors or throw out any garbage New Year’s day because that would also be like throwing out your luck.
And I know it may seem far fetched, but is it all that more unbelievable compared to rubbing a rabbit’s foot, knocking on wood three times, or any number of wacky things sports fans do to ensure that their team wins?
To Shower, or Not to Shower
But I think that if you get sweaty and stink on New Year’s day, you should, by all means, take a shower! I cannot fathom how being offensively smelly all day could conserve your luck. If anything, it should decrease your luck! No one wants to celebrate New Year’s day with someone stinky!
However, I suppose if everyone observes this superstition, you should be good to go on not bathing because everyone would be stinky as well. It’s like when you eat garlic your breath is smelly but it’s okay if the other person you’re with also eats garlic.
How Can This Work for You
On the other hand, this is a great excuse not to exercise for the day! 😆 ‘I’ll see you tomorrow treadmill because I’m not allowed to shower today. I could lose all my luck!’
And honestly, if you’re one to believe in luck, then it’s much easier to skip a day’s shower than sifting through a patch of clovers for a four-leafed one.
Are there any superstitions you hold to be true for New Year’s day (Lunar or otherwise)? And if you have any idea of where this superstition came from, please share in the comments!