Wei Ya - Thanksgiving to Earth Deity & Employees (一年終末又尾牙)

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Wei Ya (尾牙) aka Thanksgiving Day for Employees and also, Deities.

On this day, most of the Companies, Organisations, etc, will engage Banquet Dinner to reward the Employees. And before the Dinner, Bosses or Leaders will need to pay respect to Deities (諸位神明), especially Deity of Earth (土地神), for the blessing and protection for that Year.

So Wei Ya is which day in the Lunar Calendar?

Wei Ya is on the 16 Day of Lunar 12 Month (農曆十二月十六日).

After Wei Ya, most of the Companies or Organisations will stop operation. In the past, after this day, Emperor would officially announced National Holiday for all Officers and each individual Officer would need to choose an auspicious day to wrap up the seal and Imperial Sword (封官印與官劍), These actions were to represent that the Yamen (衙門) wouldn't be operating until after the 15th Day of Lunar 1 Month (Yuan Xiao 元宵).

So what are the Offerings for this Occasion?

Usually people will prepare a Whole Cooked Chicken, a Fish, a piece of Roast-Pork, Rice, 6 other side Dishes, 3 sets of Fruits, Wine, Tea and some other Traditional Cookies.

In the past, after paying respect to the Deities, the Boss of the company would gather all the employees around for an eating-session. Usually the other dishes would be heated up and chopped into smaller portion only the chicken would remain untouched.

Why?

Cos the chicken would be used as a signal for sacking an employee.

So how does go about?

The Boss would ask all the employees to sit around a big table with all dishes placed on the table except the chicken. The chicken would only be carried out by the Boss after all employees settled down. Once the timing was right, the Boss would place the chicken on the table. The Boss would point the head of the chicken to the employee that he/she wanted to sack.

Due to this day was a joyous day, the employee that got the signal, could not made any appealing or fight back, but silently and willingly accept the fact. And so, usually the chicken that being used for such "signal" wouldn't be eaten – cos its symbolize "cruelty" & "feeling-less" (無情雞).

So besides paying respect to Earth Deities, what other Deities must be honoured on this day?

Usually will be the Home Deities (家神).

Folks will need to pay respect to them as a form of gratitude for protecting the whole family thru out that year.

For Home Deities, usually simple offerings such as 3 sets of Fruits and some incense-papers will be enough.

After this Thanksgiving Ceremony, the Folks will prepare to send off the Deities on the 24th Day of Lunar 12 Month (農曆十二月二十四日之送神儀式).