In traditional Chinese culture, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year has a special significance, and people call it "breaking the five". There's a fascinating story behind the name, so let's unravel it.
According to ancient legends, the fifth day of the first lunar month is the day when Zhao Gongming, the god of wealth, leads the god of wealth to inspect the lower realm, which is collectively referred to as the day when the god of wealth goes out to patrol. On this day, people will greet the God of Wealth according to their customs, praying for good fortune and wealth rolling in. It is said that on this day, the God of Wealth would come out of the temple and enter thousands of households, bringing countless gold and silver treasures, as well as US dollars and renminbi to people. However, due to the vastness of China and the many legends, there are many different versions of the image of the God of Wealth, and each region has its own unique characteristics and stories.
Historically, the orthodox God of Wealth should have come from the Taoist system of immortals. The birthday of the God of Wealth is the fifteenth day of the third month of the lunar calendar, and the fifth day of the first month is the day when the God of Wealth goes out on patrol, and it is also the day to welcome the God of Wealth. On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, people will carry out some special folk activities, such as firecrackers, dragon and lion dances, etc., to express their respect and welcome to the God of Wealth.
There is also an interesting legend about why the fifth day of the first month is called "breaking five". Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a greedy **, who was insatiable and unscrupulous to collect money. One day, he saw Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth, in a dream, and the God of Wealth said to him: "You are insatiable and not content, I will punish you!" So, the God of Wealth ordered his little ghosts to take away all the gold and silver treasures in this ** family, leaving only five copper coins. When this ** woke up and found that his wealth had been taken away from him, and there were only five copper coins left, he was very remorseful and regretful.
Since then, people have come to call the fifth day of the Lunar New Year "Breaking Five", which means breaking away from greed and discontentment, and pursuing a contented and happy attitude towards life. It is a day when people reflect on their actions, abandon greed, and approach life with a more peaceful and kind mind.
In addition to welcoming the God of Wealth and breaking the greedy mentality, there are other interesting customs and activities on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. For example, in some places, people will use red paper to cut mascots of various shapes, such as lucky characters, fish, flowers, etc., and paste them on doors or windows for good luck and good luck. In other places, folk performances such as dragon and lion dances are held to celebrate the arrival of the God of Wealth and pray for a good harvest and prosperity in the coming year.
The activity of welcoming the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year is not only a traditional custom, but also a yearning and pursuit of a better life. On this special day, people welcome the arrival of the God of Wealth with the most sincere hearts, hoping that they can bring blessings of prosperity and smooth careers. Whether it's by greeting the God of Wealth, breaking the greedy mindset or participating in various folk activities, people hope for good luck and happiness on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
The custom of breaking the fifth day of the Lunar New Year is an ancient and interesting tradition that embodies people's desire for wealth and a better life. By greeting the God of Wealth, breaking the greedy mindset and participating in various folk activities, people hope to be able to get good luck and happiness in the new year. Let's welcome the arrival of the God of Wealth with the most sincere heart! I hope we can all have good fortune and a successful career!
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