For years people believed that they shouldn't get a haircut during the first two days of the lunar new year, as this would cause the death of someone in the family.

But on the first two days of the week-long Spring Festival, most downtown hair salons were full of customers.

Si Lian barbershop, located in Wangfujing Street, received more than 200 customers during the two days -- double the usual number.

Another old convention held that bad luck would shadow anyone who shed blood on New Year's Day. On February 12, the first day of the Year of the Horse, 260 local citizens voluntarily donated their blood at booths set up at temple fairs.

A "Horse Year" in the Chinese lunar calendar is not the best year to get married.

However, on the third day of the Spring Festival which was also Valentine's Day, several couples held weddings, refusing to allow superstition to interfere with true love.

Another New Year's no-no is using scissors and kitchen knives. Therefore in the past, many tailors stopped work for a few days. But this year, with the soaring popularity of Chinese jackets, tailors can't afford to halt their booming business.

In addition, flowers, replacing cigarettes, wine and snacks have become the most fashionable gifts to give when visiting friends and relatives. And more holiday messages are going out to family and friends via mobile phone.

At the eve of the Spring Festival, two million messages were sent through the China Mobile Beijing branch.

Traditionally, adults give gifts of money to children during the lunar New Year. This year, envelopes stuffed with Euros were passed out to many kids.

In this past holiday week, Beijing banks have received numerous customers who exchanged Renminbi to Euros, hoping to familiarize the young people with the new currency.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2002)