The Most Suitable Time to Worship the Bed Mother on Qixi
Worshipping the Bed Mother on the Qixi Festival usually takes place around 6 p.m. on the day of Qixi, specifically during the "You" hour (17:00–18:59) of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.Worshipping the Bed Mother is one of the traditional customs of the Qixi Festival in Taiwan and Minnan areas. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the birthday of the Bed Mother. The Bed Mother is the guardian deity of children, and families with children under the age of sixteen are protected by the "Bed Mother." In folk customs, worshipping the Bed Mother can pray for the child's healthy growth.
【The Details of Worshipping the Bed Mother】
In addition to the offerings, it is also necessary to prepare "Four Directions Gold" and "Bed Mother Clothes."
Location:
Place the offerings on the child's bed, and perform the worship on the child's bed, facing the bed during the worship.
Time:
If the child's lunar birthday is on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the worship should be conducted during the "You" hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
Generally, if you hope the deities will protect the children more, even if it is not the child's lunar birthday, you can still prepare offerings for the worship.
Words:
Today is the xth day of the xth month (xx day), I have prepared xxx for worship.
Let xx (the child's name) play well during the day, sleep well at night, and be well educated...........。
How to Arrange Chopsticks When Worshipping the Bed Mother
When worshipping the Bed Mother, chopsticks should not be placed; they should be put away.Worshipping the Bed Mother is also called worshipping the Bed Goddess. During the worship, chopsticks are not used because it is feared that the Bed Mother might use them to hit the child. Additionally, alcohol should not be offered, as it may make the Bed Mother drunk and cause her to neglect her duties.
【Notes for the Worship】
1. The time for worshipping the Bed Mother should not be too long. Unlike regular worship, which requires three rounds of pouring wine, after placing the offerings and lighting the incense, it is time to burn the "Four Directions Gold" and "Bed Mother Clothes," and then remove the offerings. It is hoped that the child will grow up quickly, so the worship should not last too long, as it might make the Bed Mother indulge the child and cause him or her to stay in bed too long.
2. Do not scold or hit the child in front of the bed.
3. Only children under the age of sixteen can worship the Bed Mother.
