What deities are welcomed on the second day of the first lunar month?
On the second day of the first lunar month, there is no specific deity to welcome, but there is a belief in offering sacrifices to the God of Wealth.
In northern China, the second day of the first lunar month is considered as the day for worshipping the God of Wealth.
In the north, people worship the God of Wealth on this day. On this day, both commercial shops and ordinary families hold activities to worship the God of Wealth. Each family offers sacrifices to the God of Wealth they welcomed on New Year's Eve. On this day, people have dumplings for lunch, called "Yuanbao Tang" (meaning "Treasure Soup"). The offerings include fish and mutton.
In our capital Beijing, the second day of the first lunar month is the day to worship the God of Wealth. On this day, people go to the Temple of the God of Wealth to burn the first incense.
Old Beijing had two temples dedicated to the God of Wealth. One was the Wuxian Temple of the God of Wealth located six miles from Guang'an Gate. Every year, the temple holds a fair from the second day of the first lunar month to the sixteenth day, so the second day became the day for worshipping the God of Wealth. In fact, according to legend, the birthday of the God of Wealth is the fifth day of the first lunar month. In the past, visitors would arrive at the temple and the Guang'an Gate entrance in the middle of the night to compete for the first incense. After burning incense, they would also bring back red silk flowers with characters like "Fu" (blessing) and "Shou" (longevity), cut gold paper flowers, and gold ingots home, which meant bringing "blessing" home. If they made money in the coming year, they would return to the temple to fulfill their vows by returning the paper gold ingots they had taken last year and buying more paper gold ingots. Therefore, the temple monks also benefited financially.
In northern China, the second day of the first lunar month is considered as the day for worshipping the God of Wealth.
In the north, people worship the God of Wealth on this day. On this day, both commercial shops and ordinary families hold activities to worship the God of Wealth. Each family offers sacrifices to the God of Wealth they welcomed on New Year's Eve. On this day, people have dumplings for lunch, called "Yuanbao Tang" (meaning "Treasure Soup"). The offerings include fish and mutton.
In our capital Beijing, the second day of the first lunar month is the day to worship the God of Wealth. On this day, people go to the Temple of the God of Wealth to burn the first incense.
Old Beijing had two temples dedicated to the God of Wealth. One was the Wuxian Temple of the God of Wealth located six miles from Guang'an Gate. Every year, the temple holds a fair from the second day of the first lunar month to the sixteenth day, so the second day became the day for worshipping the God of Wealth. In fact, according to legend, the birthday of the God of Wealth is the fifth day of the first lunar month. In the past, visitors would arrive at the temple and the Guang'an Gate entrance in the middle of the night to compete for the first incense. After burning incense, they would also bring back red silk flowers with characters like "Fu" (blessing) and "Shou" (longevity), cut gold paper flowers, and gold ingots home, which meant bringing "blessing" home. If they made money in the coming year, they would return to the temple to fulfill their vows by returning the paper gold ingots they had taken last year and buying more paper gold ingots. Therefore, the temple monks also benefited financially.
Is there an "opening dinner" on the second day of the first lunar month?
Yes, on the second day of the first lunar month, there is also the custom of having an "opening dinner".
The second day of the first lunar month is called "Kai Nian" (Opening Year). From this day on, people carry gifts such as pork, glutinous rice cakes, and fried dough balls to visit relatives and friends. In the Sha Tian area of Shaoguan, people kill a chicken to open the year, symbolizing a full of vitality. In terms of food customs, the lunch on the second day of the first lunar month is called "Kai Nian Fan" (Opening Dinner). The dishes are diverse and all carry auspicious meanings. Chicken is indispensable, and roasted meat symbolizes "red skin and strong body" (good health). Fried rice represents "showing off one's skills", pig tongue symbolizes "great benefit", and fresh vegetables represent "prosperity". Garlic symbolizes being able to calculate well, green onion symbolizes intelligence, leek symbolizes lasting longevity, and celery symbolizes diligence and hard work. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, when people eat seven kinds of vegetables, all the above are included.
Want to know how your fate is? Click on the following premium calculation to predict your future.
The second day of the first lunar month is called "Kai Nian" (Opening Year). From this day on, people carry gifts such as pork, glutinous rice cakes, and fried dough balls to visit relatives and friends. In the Sha Tian area of Shaoguan, people kill a chicken to open the year, symbolizing a full of vitality. In terms of food customs, the lunch on the second day of the first lunar month is called "Kai Nian Fan" (Opening Dinner). The dishes are diverse and all carry auspicious meanings. Chicken is indispensable, and roasted meat symbolizes "red skin and strong body" (good health). Fried rice represents "showing off one's skills", pig tongue symbolizes "great benefit", and fresh vegetables represent "prosperity". Garlic symbolizes being able to calculate well, green onion symbolizes intelligence, leek symbolizes lasting longevity, and celery symbolizes diligence and hard work. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, when people eat seven kinds of vegetables, all the above are included.
Want to know how your fate is? Click on the following premium calculation to predict your future.
