Barbers cut in rush for good luck

BEIJING - Just a month after the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations began, another tradition comes along: to have a haircut on the second day of the second month, or Er Yue Er, which is to hope for good luck for the entire year.

As a result of this widespread belief, China's barbershops saw one of their busiest days of the year on Wednesday, when Er Yue Er, also known as Longtaitou (dragon raises head) Day, fell on the lunar calendar this year.

Many Chinese subscribe to the superstition that getting a haircut when the "dragon also raises its head" means they will have a vigorous start to the new year. If a person has a haircut during the first month of the lunar year, however, it is assumed his maternal uncle will die.