Why can't we travel before the end of the year?

As the year is approaching, there are more people traveling. At the same time, a saying has come out. Some people say that there is an old saying, "If you don't go out for seven days, you won't return for eight days", so you don't go out for seven days and don't go home for eight days. Some people even counted seventeen, eighteen, twenty-seven and twenty-eight. In this regard, some people criticize this as a feudal superstition and a harmful dross left by our ancestors. In fact, both of these statements are wrong.

Seven out, eight out. This is indeed an educational word handed down from our ancestors. The correct explanation should be this:

Seven people are out. Don't go out before you go out. There are seven things you can't do well. These seven things are: firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea, which are the seven things we usually say to open the door. People who used to go out were often the head of the family and the backbone of the family, so you must arrange your life at home before going out.

Eight does not return. It is said that after going out, don't go home without doing eight things well. These eight things are: filial piety, loyalty, faithfulness, courtesy, righteousness, honesty and shame. These are the eight basic moral principles of the ancients. Violating any of them is a shame to our ancestors and a shame to face our family.

China's 5,000-year-old civilization is extensive and profound, and every old saying handed down has its profound meaning. You must never be labeled as a feudal superstition and killed with a stick. We should not underestimate ourselves and forget the lessons of our ancestors.

The saying that seven don't go out and eight don't go home comes from Tujia nationality:

Taboo culture has a long history in China. This kind of culture is different due to regional and ethnic differences, and taboos in Tujia production and life that go deep inland are one of them.

Tujia people have given mysterious connotations to some incomprehensible natural and human phenomena in their long-term production activities. This mysterious connotation has become a taboo in Tujia production and life.

Agriculture has been in a dominant position in Tujia areas for a long time, and some taboos related to agricultural production have been formed. For example, it is forbidden to use cattle on Qingming, Long Summer and April 8, so let the cattle rest, otherwise they will get sick and affect agricultural production. At the same time, there are many taboos in cultivated land cultivation. For example, "cock" is not cultivated. Every "e" should work hard, because "e" and "mistake" are homophonic, that is, every "e" should work hard, which is suspected of hindering the growth of crops. Tujia people also have many taboos when feeding livestock. Tujia people should look at their physical appearance when raising pigs, cows and other livestock. If the pig has inverted rotation and five claws, it should not be kept. Five lactating buffaloes are also taboo. Because the proverb "five milkshakes, die or lose" makes people have to stay away from it.

In Tujia areas, people attach great importance to geomantic omen, and they attach great importance to building houses and choosing houses. When choosing a homestead, Tujia people should avoid having a trough in front of the house and no "back hill" behind it. Because there is a proverb in Tujia areas: there is a ditch in front of the house, and you will go to jail if you don't go to court.

In daily life, Tujia people also have various taboos. By month, there are: no eagle shooting birds in the first month, no dog crotch in February, no snake copulation in March, no right person in April, no river fish in May, and no sweat clothes in June. At the same time, there is a saying that the bees are afraid to go home in August and September. In Tujia areas, people call July the Day of the Dead. Therefore, it is taboo not to sit on the threshold in July and not to shave your child's head. It is said that sitting on the threshold blocks the way home of the "dead" soul, and children will get sores when they shave their heads. For women, pregnant women (called four-eyed people by Tujia people) can't see anything new, because the eyes of "four-eyed people" are the most powerful, and they will be troubled after reading them. Mother and son can't go to other people's homes before the full moon, and it's unlucky for people who say "their stomachs are empty" to go home. Women can't cross a man's pole. It's bad luck to cross a man's pole. There are seven laymen who don't go out, eight don't look back, and there are a lot of stories about going out in 1999. Just don't go out every seven days, go home every eight days, and it's best to go out every nine days. The snake days in January, April, July and October, the Year of the Rooster in winter and the Year of the Ox in March, June, September and December are regarded as "red evil days" in Tujia areas. It is forbidden to travel long distances these days. Because there is a saying that "when you go out, you will never return." Other aspects are: children don't need to point to the moon, but they do. When you are asleep, the moon will fall and cut off your ears.

Taboos in Tujia production and life are produced in production practice and life practice. With the progress of science and technology and the development of society, it will gradually disappear. But in order to fully understand Tujia culture, we should pay attention to it and study it.