2010- The Year of the Tiger

Asians also go in for some kind of detoxification which invariably starts off with a water treatment. They believe that the mind and body need to be clean for welcoming the new year. Both the Japanese and the Koreans love Hot Springs. This is communal bathing in volcanic hot water which soothes muscles and re-invigorates the system. The Japanese call them Onsen baths and use them not only in the New Year but all year round.
Statistically, both nations shower, wash and cleanse more than any other nations- you have to shower yourself clean before you’re even allowed in the Hot Springs. But there are other water therapies. The Korean Scrub is one that’s well known- a lethal exfoliating treatment (I’ve had it and they scrub you until big rolls of dead skin come off from parts of the body you never knew could have dead skin) which ultimately leaves you with the cleanest, softest skin possible. New Year for the Japanese might involve more of a soak. They put YUZU ( Japanese Oranges) -three of four cut up for the tub – which they believe gives moisture to the skin and prevents them from catching cold.
In China, some customs sound bizarre For instance, people don’t cut their hair in the first month of the lunar year. “If you cut your hair in the first month of the Lunar Year, “my Chinese Beauty Editor told me, “your uncle will die.” It’s a 360 year old Qing Dynasty saying and it still has a negative affect on business in Chinese hair salons in January. The Chinese will dress in lucky colours of gold and red to usher in the Year of the Tiger and some of them will even dye their hair red to bring them good luck for 2010. ( “Good Luck” in Chinese has the same pronunciation as “Red”)
Their method of detoxing comes in the form of drinking soups and teas rather than soaking or massage. In winter date, ginger and black sugar concoctions or honey and basil, white mushroom, date and lotus seeds or bird’s nests. The remedies encompass coldness in winter, hotness in summer and dampness is spring and dryness in Autumn and are sometimes family secrets passed down the generations.
In Korea there is a ritual gathering in front of a big bell to hear it strike 33 times. They believe that there are 33 layers in the sky and following the bell ringing, the sky will open.
I find all these customs fascinating- detox and water-based ones particularly. Since This Works started predominantly with bath oils and the re-invigorating or relaxing properties that come from a long, hot, aromatic and pampering soak, starting the year cleansing mind and body sounds perfect sense to me.