What are the customs for Chinese New Year? Detailed explanation of the Chinese New Year custom of "traveling the god of joy"

Chinese New Year Customs - Visiting the God of Happiness

In many places in my country, there is a custom of "visiting the God of Joy" during the Spring Festival, hoping to use the joy of the God of Joy to bring happiness, good luck and fortune to the whole year.

Activities dedicated to the God of Joy are very common in various ritual activities, and weddings are especially inseparable from this God of Joy, who is in charge of joyous events.

In the old days, when getting married, it was particular that the bride should face the direction of the God of Happiness when waiting to be married at her parents' home; the bride should also face the direction of the God of Happiness when getting on and off the sedan chair; and when the newlyweds worshipped heaven and earth, they should face the direction where the God of Happiness was, in order to pray for a lifetime of happiness.

Therefore, when choosing a date for marriage, the person who chooses the auspicious date must specifically note the "god of happiness" so and so, so that the newlyweds can grasp it.

According to legend, the God of Joy is divided into five types according to their different expressions, namely: the Smiling God of Joy, the Sad God of Joy, the Sleeping God of Joy, the Drunken God of Joy, and the Sitting God of Joy.

The five lucky gods reside in the following directions:

The God of Joy when Sitting is in the Gen direction (northeast), the God of Joy when Sleeping is in the Gan direction (northwest), the God of Joy when Sad is in the Kun direction (southwest), the God of Joy when Drunk is in the Li direction (south), and the God of Joy when Laughing is in the Xun direction (southeast). Among them, the most popular is the God of Laughter and Joy.

It is said that this originated from King Zhou of Shang. When Jiang Ziya conferred the gods, he conferred the title of God of Joy to King Zhou of Shang. It was well known that King Zhou of Shang loved beautiful women the most. The southeast direction (Xun) represents his eldest daughter, so he likes her and is all smiles, which is the God of Joy; the southwest direction (Kun) represents his old mother, so King Zhou is naturally unhappy with her, so he frowns, which is the God of Joy.

In order to facilitate memorization, there was a mnemonic in ancient times to tell the days when these five gods of happiness would take turns:

Jia and Ji sit upright, Yi and Geng sleep.

Bing Xin Kun frowns.

Ding Ren was drunk and mad.

Wu and Gui are smiling in Xun.

That is: the day of Jia and Ji is under the charge of Sitting God of Happiness, the day of Yi and Geng is under the charge of Sleeping God of Happiness, the day of Bing and Xin is under the charge of Sorrowful God of Happiness, the day of Ding and Ren is under the charge of Drunk God of Happiness, the day of Wu and Gui is under the charge of Smiling God of Happiness.

When people get married or visit the God of Happiness, they usually look for the day when the God of Laughter and Happiness is on duty.

According to legend, in ancient times, when the government went to worship the God of Happiness, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory had to first find out the God's position. The royal family would then hold a ceremony and, based on the God's position, drive the divine cow to the suburbs at a certain time to welcome the God of Happiness. The cows are covered in red and sent off with drums and music. The cow official must crack the whip, which is called "whipping spring". Incense is burned, firecrackers are set off, and pigs and sheep are driven around, imitating the ancient practice of offering sacrifices to the gods in the livestock pen, in order to enjoy the day to the fullest.

The northwestern part of Shanxi has a long-standing custom of visiting the God of Happiness, and we Yuanping people take it even more seriously. Everyone hopes to welcome the God of Happiness back home and have a good start to the year.

When welcoming the God of Happiness, a cow covered in red walks in front, and the villagers follow with gongs and drums. All the young and old in the village come out of their homes, and the streets are deserted. Everyone gathers at the direction of the God of Joy. An elder presides over the ceremony, and incense is burned, firecrackers are set off, and tributes are offered, just like other ceremonies to worship the God of Joy. Everyone bows to the God of Joy and asks him to bless everyone with good luck, happiness and joy for the whole year.
Summary: The above article content is the detailed analysis of the Chinese New Year custom "Touring the God of Happiness" that the editor wants to introduce to readers. Friends who are interested can learn about it. If you want to know more, you are welcome to visit Mr. Shui Mo!