The red thread
月老 keeps the book of marriages and binds the ankles of those fated to meet with an invisible red cord. The thread may stretch and tangle, the tradition says, but it does not break — which is why he is petitioned for reconciliation as often as for new love.
His feast falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, at mid-autumn.
How he is petitioned
Devotees state their own name and birth date, then what they seek — not usually a specific person by name, which the tradition regards as presumptuous. Offerings are red items, sweets and flowers.
Common questions
Can I ask for a specific person?
The tradition prefers you ask for the right person rather than a named one. Many practitioners consider naming someone improper.
Is he only for the unmarried?
No. He is petitioned for reconciliation and for the health of an existing marriage.
What do I offer?
Something red, something sweet, flowers.