Lunar Year Customs – 4th Day of Lunar New Year (農曆正月習俗之初四神駕還)

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Forth Day of Lunar New Year, in Folks Culture, this is the Day that the Deities being sent off on the 24th Day, returning to the Mortal World.

For those who do the Sending-off of Kitchen Deity or any Home Deities, on the 4th Day, a simple Ceremony or Honouring Session will be needed to welcome the Deities back.

During the Ceremony or Honouring Session, a few things will be needed to be prepared for the welcoming back.

So what shall be prepared?

Here are some recommended items:

1 – Nian Gao (年糕)
2 – 1 set of 5 Oranges (五顆桔子)
3 – 3 cups of Tea (三杯清茶)
4 – Huat Kueh (發糕)
5 – Some flowers (5 colours 五色花)
6 – Paper-offerings (normal incense-papers & the Welcoming-back papers - refer to below attachment, do not use the Wrong One)



So what is the timing for the Welcoming Back?

According to the Hokkien Custom, while doing the welcoming back, the timing must be as late as possible.

Reason: The folks believed that, on the Day of the Deities returning back, usually they are drunk or carrying-certain-amount of stuffs. And so, as a Mortal, one self is not supposed to hurry the Deities, must allowed them to have ample-time to return to the Mortal World.

So any more things to be prepared on the 4th Day?

Yes, for those who are preparing to Usher/Welcome in the Deity of Wealth (Jie Cai Shen 接財神), will need to prepare the following items:

1 – Nian Gao (年糕)
2 – 1 set of 5 Oranges (五顆桔子)
3 – 1 Pineapple (黃梨)
4 – 1 set of 5 Apples (五顆蘋果)
5 – 1 set of 5 Chinese Pears (五顆香梨)
6 – 1 Bunch of Bananas (一串香蕉)
7 – 6 sets of Traditional Cookies (六甜)
8 – 6 sets of Vegetarain Items (六素)
9 – 3 cups of Wine (三杯米酒)
10 – 3 cups of Tea (三杯清茶)
11 – Huat Kueh (發糕)
12 – Some flowers (5 colours 五色花)
13 – Paper-offerings (紙料)
14 – Some people will prepare the cooked-stuffs such as chicken, roast pig (三牲禮).

Once ready, the altar will need to set up and the offerings will be placed on the altar to wait for the 5th Day to arrive.