On the first day of Chinese New Year, the God of Wealth bestows immense wealth, prosperity and good fortune to all who ask for his blessings, making it an excellent time to welcome him into your home.
This year, Chinese New Year falls on FEBRUARY 10th, and the God of Wealth will come from the NORTHEAST.
The Lo Shu number of this day is #5. This means that homes facing Northeast, South, North or Northwest have very fortunate stars and will benefit tremendously from welcoming in the God of Wealth.
Northeast and South-facing homes have the #8 and #9 respectively and will enjoy plenty of wealth and prosperity luck. Those that face North have the #1, which brings the luck of being victorious all through the year, while those oriented Northwest have the #6 enhancing money and windfall luck.
Just because your home does not face Northeast, South, North or Northwest does not mean you cannot greet the God of Wealth. All you need is an open space in your garden that allows you to face Northeast when setting up the offering table.
THE WELCOMING RITUAL
To receive the God of Wealth, select an auspicious hour according to your animal sign. The table below provides time guides for the welcoming ritual. (Note: for those born in the Year of the Dog, you are advised NOT to receive the God of Wealth, as this day conflicts with your animal sign.)
| Time | Auspicious | Inauspicious |
| Time: 12am to 1am (Rat Hour) | Auspicious: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, & Rooster | Inauspicious: Horse, Sheep, Dog & Boar |
| Time: 11am to 1pm (Horse Hour) | Auspicious: Dragon, Horse, Sheep, & Boar | Inauspicious: Rat, Rabbit, Snake, Dog, Ox & Monkey |
Ingredients needed:
- An image of Choy San, the God of Wealth
- An Incense burner
- Large incense sticks
- Medium incense sticks
- 6 small sized porcelain cups (for tea and white rice wine)
- One set of red candles
- One “Fatt Gou” cake
- One “Fatt Choi” vegetable
- Red plates offering 5 types of fruits
- Red plates offering some vegetarian food
- Red plates of sweets and “Lian Kou”
- A pot of gold, gold bars, gold ingots and I-Ching coins
First, take a shower; it is important to receive the God of Wealth with a clean body and new clothes.
Then, use the compass to orient your altar table towards the Northeast direction. While facing NE, place the incense burner in the center of the table. Place the offerings on red-colored plates behind the incense burner. Form two rows of 3 small cups each in front of the incense burner. Pour tea into the first row of cups. and white rice wine into the second row of cups. Behind all the offerings and incense joss pots, place the Choy San. Make sure that Choy San is coming from the Northeast direction.
When ready, you can start to receive the God of Wealth at the auspicious time selected.
Light candles at the altar in your home, turn on all the lights, and open all doors and windows. Make three prostrations to the Deities on your altar, then light the candle and 3 large incense sticks on the small altar table set up outside the house.
The Patriarch of the family should hold 3 large incense sticks and prostrate to the God of Wealth. When making prayers, he should hold the incense sticks in both hands and kneel down facing Northeast. He must invite the God of Wealth to come into the house and make the request on behalf of the family members. He should then place the incense sticks into the incense burner, light the medium incense sticks and distribute 3 incense sticks to each of his family members. Everyone should pray to the God of Wealth and invite him into the home.
When the incense sticks are burnt halfway, focus your mind on inviting the God of Wealth into your home. After that, make a toast. Pour 3 cups of tea (about 80%) onto the floor. Then, make the second toast of the wine. Pour 80% of the wine of the 3 cups onto the floor.
Light three incense sticks and hold them with both hands as you walk into your house. A family member should carry the Choy San with both hands and walk in front of you. Visualize the God of Wealth entering your house, bringing your home all kinds of wealth luck.
Go straight to your home altar. Place the 3 incense sticks on the incense burner. It is important to inform the deities on your altar that you have invited the God of Wealth into your home. Then, offer 3 cups of rice wine and 3 freshly lit incense sticks.
Display the Choy San in the Southwest corner of your home for the duration of the 15 days of New Year, and on the 16th day, place the Choy San facing your main door.
