The fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the fourth day of the first lunar month, is also known as the Day of the Goat. It is the day when Chinese folk welcome the God of Zao back to the people. On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family cleans the house and piles up the garbage in one place, which is also known as “throwing the poor” in Chinese folklore.
1. Welcome the gods and receive them
The fourth day of the Lunar New Year is the time when the gods come back to earth from the heavenly realm. As for the offerings, three animals, fruits, wine and dishes should be ready, and incense and candles should be burned to burn the golden clothes. If the boss wants to fire someone, he will not be invited to worship the gods on this day.
2. receive the five roads
To receive five roads, originally refers to receive five road gods, later evolved to receive five road gods of wealth. In the old days, after the Chinese New Year vacation, merchants usually invite the God of Wealth on the evening of the fourth day, and open the market on the fifth day, in order to have good luck.
At 3:00 p.m. on the fourth day, the preparation work for the ceremony to receive the five roads began, until 9:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m. end. Receive the five roads to the owner to bring incense and candles respectively to the east, west, south, north, in the five directions of the God of Wealth Hall to invite to receive, each receive a way to the God of Wealth, in front of the door to fire a string of hundred cannons. After all of them, the owner and fellows in turn to the god of wealth worship, worship after the original table of horse hanging cremation, said to send the god of wealth. The ceremony is considered to be over.
3. Goat Day
The fourth day of the first month is the “Goat Day” of Nuwa’s creation myth. Jin Dongxun’s “Rites and Customs” says: “The first day of the first month is a chicken, the second day is a dog, the third day is a pig, the fourth day is a sheep, the fifth day is a cow, the sixth day is a horse, and the seventh day is a man. The first day of the month painted chicken in the door, seven days to post people in the account.” In the old royal calendar accounted for the sheep, so often said “three sheep (Yang) Kai Tai” is a symbol of good luck, but also to welcome the god of Zao back to the days of the people.
4. do not go out of town
Avoid going out of the house, this day is the folk custom to receive the gods, to welcome the gods, Zao Wang and family gods back to guard the family, Zao Wang will name, so should not go out. The Zaowang master will point out the household check, so families should guard their homes, prepare rich fruits, burn incense and candles and cast firecrackers to show their respect and welcome.
