CNY customs: What people do on the 6th day of the new year

The sixth day of the Chinese New Year is traditionally associated with sending away the God of Poverty.

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According to one version of Chinese legend, the God of Poverty was a son of Zhuanxu, a mythological emperor of ancient China.Despite his notable lineage, he lived a life of extreme frugality, wearing tattered clothes and survived on simple porridge. It is said that homes left dirty on this day might attract the God of Poverty, which symbolizes misfortune.  

To ward off this figure, people clean their homes and dispose of garbage on this day .

Additionally, as the number six symbolizes smooth progress in Chinese culture, many merchants and businesses choose this day to resume business activities, hoping for a successful year ahead.