According to Eastern beliefs, the God of Wealth is the god responsible for overseeing money and bringing good fortune to the homeowner. This god helps the homeowner's business to proceed smoothly and without obstacles.
The custom of worshipping the God of Wealth originated in China and was introduced to Vietnam around the beginning of the 20th century. The God of Wealth's day is chosen by people to worship the God of Wealth to receive blessings, advancement, and success as desired.
The custom of worshiping the God of Wealth originated in China and was introduced to Vietnam around the beginning of the 20th century.
According to legend, the God of Wealth, while drunk, fell to earth and lost his memory, forgetting who he was. He lived as a vagabond and begged for food to survive. Fortunately, he met a kind shop owner and was invited to his restaurant. As soon as the old beggar entered, the shop gradually became crowded with customers, people coming and going. Noticing this, the shop owner kept the old man to stay so that business would always be favorable. After a while, the old beggar began to remember everything and returned to heaven on January 10.
Since then, to commemorate him, people have set up an altar and chosen this day as the God of Wealth's feast day. Every January 10th, people prepare offerings to worship the God of Wealth, buy gold, buy feng shui items... with the wish to pray for wealth, luck and prosperity for the whole year.
Every January 10th, people prepare offerings to worship the God of Wealth, buy gold, buy feng shui items... with the wish to pray for wealth, luck and prosperity for the whole year.
Cleaning the God of Wealth altar
Early on the 10th of January, you should open all the doors in your house, especially the main door, to welcome fortune into your home. In particular, after burning incense, salt and rice are usually put away, and water is poured from outside into your house. This means that fortune only goes into the house and not out, helping to keep the fortune intact.
Above all, before worshiping the God of Wealth, you should clean the altar meticulously and carefully. You can use grapefruit leaf water or a clean basin specifically for bathing and purifying... You should pour clean water and mix a little white wine to bathe both the God of Wealth and the God of Earth. Next, clean and tidy up the altars of both of them.
Before worshiping the God of Wealth, you should clean the altar carefully and meticulously.
Offering to the God of Wealth
To have a prosperous business and good sales all year round, the offering tray to the God of Wealth needs to be carefully prepared, depending on the locality. On normal days, depending on the conditions of each homeowner, you can make vegetarian or non-vegetarian offerings. However, on the day of the God of Wealth, you should prepare non-vegetarian offerings.
According to folklore, the God of Wealth loves crab, roast pork and ripe bananas. In particular, people in some localities also buy grilled snakehead fish or roast pork. Southerners also have a plate of three offerings (including boiled pork, boiled eggs and boiled shrimp) when making offerings.
To have a prosperous business and good sales all year round, the offering tray to the God of Wealth needs to be carefully prepared, depending on the locality.
In particular, in recent years, many families have chosen lucky cakes to worship on the God of Wealth's day such as steamed buns, cream cakes or pineapple cakes in the shape of peaches, gold bars, gold jars, money bags, jade food sets, cakes...
As for the flowers offered to the God of Wealth, you should not use fake flowers or plastic fruits. You should offer the God of Wealth with fresh fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, oranges, tangerines, etc. Besides, you should also prepare a tray of gold paper, two small lamps on either side of the incense bowl and a tray of water with two cups of wine and three cups of water.
In particular, in recent years, many families have chosen lucky cakes to worship the God of Wealth on his birthday.
Buy gold and feng shui items
According to long-standing tradition, buying gold is especially important on the day of the God of Wealth. In the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, spending money to buy gold on the day of the God of Wealth on the 10th of January will bring prosperity, luck, smooth work, wealth, and money all year round because gold symbolizes wealth and prosperity. In addition, buying gold at the beginning of the year is also considered a form of saving for Vietnamese people. There are many types of gold to consider when buying on this occasion, such as gold rings, jewelry gold, gold bars, etc.
Besides buying gold on God of Wealth day, many families choose to buy additional feng shui items such as feng shui stones, money frogs or meaningful jewelry... with the wish for a prosperous year and more luck.
According to long-standing tradition, buying gold is given special attention on God of Wealth day.
