Chinese New Year Gods

Zao Shen (灶神) — The Kitchen God

The Kitchen God is the most important domestic deity during New Year preparations. According to tradition, Zao Shen lives in every kitchen and watches over the family's behavior throughout the year. One week before New Year's Eve, he ascends to heaven to deliver his annual report to the Jade Emperor — essentially a spiritual performance review of the household.

To ensure a favorable report, families offer sticky sweets (like 糖瓜, malt candy) to "sweeten his mouth" or literally glue his lips shut so he can't say anything bad. His paper image is burned (sending him to heaven), and a new one is pasted on New Year's Eve to welcome him back.

Offerings: Sweet sticky candy, fruits, incense, candles. Burn his old image, paste new one on New Year's Eve.

Men Shen (门神) — The Door Gods

Door Gods are guardian deities pasted in pairs on front doors. The most famous pair are Qin Qiong (秦琼) and Yuchi Gong (尉迟恭), Tang Dynasty generals whose fierce images protect against evil spirits entering the home. New portraits are pasted on New Year's Eve — facing each other, never back to back. Some households use different door god pairs: civil officials for interior doors, military generals for exterior doors.

Key rule: Door Gods must face each other. If they face away, it symbolizes discord.

Offerings: Incense, fruit, tea. Mainly honored through fresh portrait placement.

Cai Shen (财神) — The God of Wealth

The most anticipated worship day of the entire festival. On the 5th day of the new year, Cai Shen descends from heaven to inspect the mortal world and distribute fortune. Businesses and households welcome him with firecrackers at midnight, gold-colored offerings, and open doors. It's believed that the earlier you welcome him, the more wealth you'll receive.

In northern China, dumplings shaped like gold ingots (元宝) are eaten. In southern China, whole fish (鱼) symbolizes surplus (余). Businesses traditionally reopen on this day, timing their first transaction for maximum auspiciousness.

Offerings: Five types of fruit (especially oranges and pomelos for their gold color), whole fish, gold ingots, red candles. Three incense sticks. Firecrackers at the door.

Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝)

The supreme deity of the Chinese pantheon celebrates his birthday on the 9th day. This is the second-biggest worship day after Cai Shen Day. Particularly important in southern China and among Hokkien (Fujian) communities, where the ritual is called "Bai Tian Gong" (拜天公). Families set up outdoor altars with sugarcane stalks, red tortoise cakes, and elaborate offerings. The ceremony often begins at midnight.

Offerings: Sugarcane plants (symbolizing sweet ascent), five types of fruit, six types of vegetarian dishes, red tortoise cakes (红龟粿), gold paper money.

Tu Di Gong (土地公) — The Earth God

The local Earth God is one of the most accessible deities — every village and neighborhood has a Tu Di Gong shrine. On Day 2, married daughters return to their birth families and pay respects to the local Earth God. Small businesses with street-side shrines keep incense burning throughout the 15-day festival.

Offerings: Simple fruit, tea, rice cakes, incense. Modest compared to other gods — Tu Di Gong is humble.