The Third Day of Chinese New Year in Taiwan
In Taiwan, the third day of the first lunar month is part of the Lunar New Year public holiday. Folk traditions associate it with avoiding arguments, resting after the first days of celebrations, and the story of a mice wedding.[1][2][3]
A day within Taiwan’s Lunar New Year break
Taiwan’s holiday calendar includes the third day of the first lunar month in the Lunar New Year holiday period. The current rules provide a five-day holiday, beginning the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve and ending on the third day of the new lunar month.[1]
For workers covered by the Labor Standards Act, Lunar New Year is a paid national holiday. If a national holiday falls on a worker’s regular day off, the Ministry of Labor says a substitute day off must be arranged; the specific date is agreed between employer and employee. The rules also allow a holiday to be moved to a regular workday by agreement.[2]
Why the day is linked with rest
A traditional New Year’s rhyme calls the third day “初三無通巧” or “初三睏較飽”—roughly, the third day is unsuitable for visits or a chance to sleep in. The rest custom is linked both to the folk belief that the day is unlucky for going out and to the fatigue of several days of celebration.[3]
The “Red Dog” and a folk story that mice marry on this night are traditional beliefs, not official observances; they help explain the custom of staying home or going to bed early.[3]
How it fits into New Year customs
The third day is one part of a longer season of family and religious observances. Taiwan’s Tourism Administration describes Lunar New Year as the country’s most important holiday, with customs that include family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, setting off firecrackers at midnight, and preparing rice cakes before the holiday.[4]
The New Year rhyme links the first days to visiting family and receiving deities, then presents the third day as a pause before shops reopen and work resumes on the fifth day. These folk customs have changed over time, and households may observe them differently.[3]
What to expect during the holiday
Government offices follow the official work calendar, so routine public services are generally not available on this holiday. For private workplaces, the national-holiday rules provide paid time off but allow work by agreement, with additional pay requirements; they do not mean every shop or restaurant closes.[1][2]
Check individual businesses and transport operators for holiday hours and service changes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the third day of Chinese New Year?
Is it a public holiday in Taiwan?
Why is it called the Red Dog day?
A Taiwanese government account records a folk belief that the third day is an unlucky day for going out, and links the name Red Dog with that tradition. It also notes that the day may have offered a chance to rest after several busy days.[3]
Are shops and restaurants closed?
There is no single opening schedule for all private businesses. The labor rules allow work on a national holiday by agreement, so check the hours of a particular shop or restaurant before visiting.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for The third day of the Chinese New Year in Taiwan:
- 2027 Work Calendar- Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan
- 國定假日及補假- Ministry of Labor, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- 傳統節慶- Executive Yuan, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Traditional Festivals- Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Republic of China (Taiwan)