How to Welcome the God of Wealth in 2024 (接财神)

The year 2024, the Jia Chen 甲辰 year, is fast approaching. Along with the joyous celebration of the Spring Festival 春节, the tradition of welcoming the God of Wealth 接财神 is an indispensable part of the festivities.

As the saying goes, “Welcoming the God of Wealth properly brings natural financial fortune.” To successfully and smoothly receive the God of Wealth, it’s crucial not to overlook any step!

Let’s follow the guidance of Grandmaster Chen and learn how to properly welcome the God of Wealth in 2024.

Auspicious Time to Welcome the God of Wealth in 2024

First and foremost, determining the auspicious time 吉时 is the most essential step. For the year 2024, the time to welcome the God of Wealth differs from the usual first day of the lunar month.

After meticulous calculation, it is especially recommended that the evening of 9th February 2024 (the 30th day of the 12th lunar month, Chinese New Year’s Eve 除夕夜), specifically from 11:00 pm to 11:59 pm, be observed as the optimal period to welcome the God of Wealth.

It is also suggested that the whole family, both young and old, should participate in this event, as it better demonstrates respect for the God of Wealth.

Directions to Welcome the God of Wealth in 2024

Next, it’s important to identify the directions of the auspicious and inauspicious deities. On Chinese New Year’s Eve:

• the God of Wealth will approach from the [South 南],
• the Noble God 贵神 from the [East 东],
• and the Happiness God 喜神 from the [Southeast 东南].

As for the inauspicious deities, the Five Ghosts 五鬼 and the Death Gate 死门 will come from the [Northeast 东北]

It’s crucial to use a compass before welcoming the God of Wealth to accurately determine these directions, to avoid inadvertently inviting inauspicious deities into the home and bringing misfortune.

Offerings to Welcome the God of Wealth in 2024

Then, it’s time to prepare the offerings for welcoming the God of Wealth. You can prepare the following items:

• Five Types of Fruits (types can be substituted):
  1. Bananas (香蕉): Symbolizing “attracting joyous events and achieving grand plans.”
  2. Pineapples (黄梨): Representing “arriving good fortune and prosperous development.”
  3. Citrus (柑橘): Indicating “bitterness turning to sweetness, a sweet and blissful life.”
  4. Oranges (橙子): Denoting “wishes coming true and great luck in the New Year.”
  5. Pears (梨子): Signifying “keeping misfortune at bay.”
• Fresh Flowers (鲜花):
  • Although not mandatory, if prepared, it’s advised to use three to seven colors. Fake flowers, thorny plants, or flowers with inauspicious meanings should not be used.
• Pastries (糕点) (type and quantity are flexible):
  • “Cake” (糕) is a homophone for “rise,” symbolizing upward progress.
  • You can prepare prosperity cake (发糕), New Year cake (年糕), pineapple tarts (黄梨饼), annual cookies (年饼), candies (糖果), and gold ingot chocolates (元宝巧克力).
• Tea and Alcohol (茶酒):
  • Tea (茶), symbolizing dispelling disaster and disease, driving away evil spirits. Prepare three cups of Chinese tea (中国茶) (traditional Tang tea can also be prepared).
  • Alcohol (酒), signifying sincerity and devotion in worshipping the gods. Prepare three cups of rice wine (米酒).
• A serving of Five Vegetarian Ingredients (五斋):
  • Golden needles (金针) (not golden needle mushrooms!), wood ear mushrooms (木耳), vermicelli (粉丝), shiitake mushrooms (冬菇), and tofu skin (腐竹), representing “worship from all five directions of heaven and earth.”
• A serving of Hair Moss (发菜):
  • Symbolizing wealth and boosting fortune.
• Two Candles (蜡烛):
  • Signifying illuminating wealth and showing respect and sincerity towards the gods.
• Three Sticks of Dragon Incense (龙香):
  • As it’s the “Year of the Dragon,” this symbolizes the dragon soaring across the seas.
  • This incense is to be used by the male head of the household or the ceremony leader.
• Wealth Attracting Incense and an Incense Pot (招财香与盛鼎):
  • This incense is for other family members to use, with each person holding three sticks, symbolizing attracting the God of Wealth.
  • After the ceremony, the incense sticks can be placed in the pot filled with incense ash (preferably with supreme quality gold sand).
• A Treasure Basin (聚宝盆):
  • Representing attracting wealth and blessings.
• Gold Ingots (金元宝):
  • Signifying guaranteed wealth.
• Fortune-Attracting Mother Coin (福海招财钱母):
  • Symbolizing money (the mother) giving birth to more money (children).
• God of Wealth Worship Materials (接财神拜料):
  • The worship materials should include: a God of Wealth statue (财神像) (mandatory), a written prayer for welcoming the God of Wealth (迎接财神疏文) (mandatory), a talisman for the Noble, the God of Wealth’s dragon robe, a hundred Noble people, longevity gold, Five Directions God of Wealth gold, a gold for all requests, fortune-enhancing gold, ingot gold, large and small gold, peace money, and prosperity gold.
• An Offering Table (供桌):
  • Square or rectangular tables are both suitable, but they must be stable, with all legs of equal length and the table remaining steady even when shaken.
  • A large red cloth or red paper must be spread on the table surface, and it’s important to have a table skirt specifically for welcoming the God of Wealth.

Once all the required offerings and sacrificial items are ready, you can begin the ceremony to welcome the God of Wealth!

Ceremony to Welcome the God of Wealth in 2024 (接财神仪式)

Now, let’s move to the action part of the ritual ceremony to welcome the God of Wealth in 2024:

Learn the proper steps to welcome the God of Wealth in 2024 for prosperity and good fortune throughout the year.

Total time: 1 hour

1. Preparation and Dressing

After bathing and cleansing, everyone in the family should change into clean, new clothes, or even wear lucky red tees, and prepare to welcome the God of Wealth with a joyful heart.

2. Setting the Offering Table

Place the offerings, Fortune-Attracting Mother Coin, and Treasure Basin on the offering table already covered with red cloth or red paper. Then, triple-check to ensure all offerings are complete.

3. Lighting and Music

Since the God of Wealth does not enter a dark hall, turn on all the lights in the house and play festive music such as “Welcoming the God of Wealth”. Ensure the entrance is clean and unobstructed by shoes or other items.

4. Respect to Other Deities

If there are altars for the Heavenly Gods 天神, Household Gods 家神, or Land Gods 地主 in the home, offer incense and light candles to show respect at this time.

5. Determining the Direction

In 2024, the God of Wealth descends from the due south. It’s recommended to use a smartphone or compass to find the correct direction.

6. Starting the Ceremony

When the auspicious time arrives, the ceremony leader should respectfully offer tea, light the candles and the incense sticks for the God of Wealth, and place them in their holders and the incense pot in order.

7. Family Prayer

The male head of the household, holding the dragon incense, leads the family in kneeling and facing due south, sincerely reciting the prayer for welcoming the God of Wealth. (Note: If there is no male head of the household, the female head should read the prayer. However, the substitute must be the principal or the main financial supporter of the family. Additionally, any unfamiliar words in the prayer should be annotated before the auspicious time.)

8. Incense Ritual

After the recitation, the male head of the household first places the dragon incense in the incense burner, followed by other family members inserting ordinary gold incense sticks in order of seniority.

9. Burning Prayer and Materials

When the incense burns down to one-third, burn the prayer for welcoming the God of Wealth and the worship materials together.

10. Welcoming the God of Wealth

The male head of the household, holding the statue of the God of Wealth, respectfully invites the God of Wealth into the house. (Note: The statue should face forward, in the same direction as the people.) Other family members should bring in the Fortune-Attracting Mother Coin and the Treasure Basin.

11. Placing the Statue and Coins

After entering the house, the male head of the household first affixes the God of Wealth statue beside the altar, in a conspicuous wealth position, living room, or near the entrance. Then, place the Fortune-Attracting Mother Coin and the Treasure Basin near the wealth position or the God of Wealth statue.

12. Family Gathering

The whole family should spend some time in the living room, imagining the God of Wealth is a guest in the home. Gather together for a chat, have some snacks, and maintain a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere.