Third day of Lunar New Year

The Third Day of the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong falls on Thursday, February 19, 2026, following the first day on February 17 and the second day on February 18. It is commonly known in Cantonese as Chi Gou Yat (赤口日), meaning “Day of the Red Dog.” In traditional Chinese folk belief, the Red Dog is a spirit associated with anger, disputes, and bad luck, so the third day is considered less suitable for social calls, business negotiations, and major decisions than the more auspicious opening days of the festival.

The custom reflects the older agrarian and religious world of the Lunar New Year, when the first several days were believed to influence the fortunes of the year ahead. In modern Hong Kong, many people treat the belief as a cultural observance rather than a strict rule. The day remains part of the territory’s official Lunar New Year holiday period, although its atmosphere is generally quieter: families may rest at home, avoid unnecessary arguments, and visit temples to pray for peace, health, and prosperity. Some businesses and markets begin returning to normal after the first three festival days.

A traditional practice on Chi Gou Yat is to avoid visiting relatives and friends, since social encounters were once thought more likely to lead to disagreements. Families may stay indoors, spend time together, watch television, or enjoy New Year foods left from reunion meals. Common festive dishes in Hong Kong include turnip cake, taro cake, glutinous rice cake, dumplings, sweet rice balls, and other auspicious foods symbolizing prosperity, growth, and family unity. People who do go out often choose a temple visit, where they burn incense and make offerings for good fortune and protection.

The third day also falls within the period when Hong Kong temples, including popular sites such as Che Kung Temple and Wong Tai Sin Temple, attract worshippers seeking blessings for the new year, though the busiest temple customs vary by family and district. Lion dances, flower-market visits, red envelopes, and family gatherings are concentrated especially around the first and second days, but greetings such as “Kung Hei Fat Choy” (恭喜發財), meaning “Congratulations and may you prosper,” remain appropriate throughout the holiday. Because Chi Gou Yat is associated with avoiding conflict, people traditionally emphasize courteous speech, calm behavior, and good wishes rather than formal visiting or contentious activities.