迎财神，/yíng cái shén/ Welcomed the God of Wealth in Chinese 又叫做“接财神”，是中国民间古老的传统节日习俗。因为中国民间传说正月初五是财神的生日，所以过了年初一，接下来最重要的活动就是接财神，在财神生日到来的前一天晚上，各家置办酒席，为财神贺辰。
“接财神”的风俗在中国各地有许多不同之处，有些地方是正月初一接财神，有些地方则正月初四、初五接。
历史渊源
自古至今，中国老百姓信仰的财神有很多，这其中有“武财神”、“文财神”还有“五路财神”、“准财神”和“偏财神”。
正月初四（也有正月初五说法）接财神的出处，五显财神或五路财神：传说有兄弟五人封号首字皆为“显”，故称“五显财神”。生前劫富济贫，死后仍惩恶扬善，保佑穷苦百姓。北京安定门外有五显财神庙。
“文财神”财帛星君，也称“增福财神”：他的绘像经常与“福”、“禄”、“寿”三星和喜神列在一起，合起来为福、禄、寿、喜、财。财帛星君脸白发长，手捧一个宝盆，“招财进宝”四字由此而来。一般人家春节必悬挂此图于正厅，祈求财运、福运。正月初五接财神财帛星君习俗的起源与唐代长安首富王元宝有关。
正月初四，各商店开市，一大早就金锣爆竹、牲醴（shēng lǐ）毕陈，以迎接财神。清人顾铁卿《清嘉录》中引了一首蔡云的竹枝词，描绘了苏州人初五迎财神的情形：“五日财源五日求，一年心愿一时酬；提防别处迎神早，隔夜匆匆抱路头”。“抱路头”亦即“迎财神”。信奉关帝圣君的商家，在正月初五要为关公供上牲醴，鸣放爆竹，烧金纸膜拜，求关圣帝君保佑一年财运亨通。
“接财神”的风俗在中国各地有许多不同之处，有些地方是正月初一接财神，有些地方则正月初四、初五接。在清代的苏州、上海等地，初五一大早，人们就敲锣打鼓燃放爆竹，摆牺牲供品准备迎接财神，民间认为谁先接到财神，谁就会得到更多的好处，于是迎神者都争先恐后，唯恐接得晚了，惹财神不高兴，由此又衍生出“抢路头”的习俗。
Welcoming the God of Wealth, also called “receiving the God of Wealth”, is an ancient traditional festival custom among Chinese folk. Because Chinese folklore says that the fifth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the God of Wealth, so after the first day of the new year, the next most important activity is to receive the God of Wealth. On the night before the God of Wealth’s birthday, every family sets up a banquet to congratulate the God of Wealth.
The custom of “receiving the God of Wealth” has many differences across China. In some places, the God of Wealth is received on the first day of the first lunar month, while in other places it is received on the fourth and fifth day of the first lunar month.
Historical Origins
Since ancient times, Chinese people have believed in many gods of wealth, including the “Martial God of Wealth”, “Wen God of Wealth”, “Five-way God of Wealth”, “Quasi God of Wealth” and “Partial God of Wealth”.
The fourth day of the first lunar month (also said to be the fifth day of the first lunar month) is the origin of the God of Wealth, the Five-show God of Wealth or the Five-Way God of Wealth: Legend has it that there are five brothers whose first characters are all “Xian”, so they are called “the Five-show God of Wealth”. He robbed the rich and gave to the poor while he was alive, but after his death he still punished evil and promoted good, and protected the poor. There is the Five-Hand God of Wealth Temple outside Andingmen in Beijing.
The “God of Wealth and Wealth”, Cai Silk Xingjun, is also known as the “God of Fortune and Wealth”: His portraits are often listed with the three stars of “Fu”, “Lu” and “Shou” and the God of Joy, which together form Fu, Lu, Longevity, Happiness and wealth. Caibo Xingjun has a white face and long hair, and holds a treasure basin in his hand. This is where the four words “recruiting wealth and treasures” come from. Most people will hang this picture in the main hall during the Spring Festival to pray for wealth and good fortune. The origin of the custom of receiving the Silk Star Lord from the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the first lunar month is related to Wang Yuanbao, the richest man in Chang’an in the Tang Dynasty.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, all shops open for business, and early in the morning gold gongs, firecrackers, and sacrifices (shēng lǐ) are prepared to welcome the God of Wealth. Gu Tieqing of the Qing Dynasty quoted a poem about bamboo branches by Cai Yun in “Qing Jia Lu”, which describes the situation of Suzhou people welcoming the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year: “Five days for wealth, five days for wealth, one year’s wish will be rewarded in one hour; beware of other places to welcome God early, overnight Hurriedly hugging the road.” “Bao Lutou” also means “welcoming the God of Wealth”. Merchants who believe in the Holy Lord Guan will offer sacrifices to Guan Gong on the fifth day of the first lunar month, set off firecrackers, and burn gold paper to worship him, hoping that the Holy Lord Guan will bless him with good fortune for the year.
The custom of “receiving the God of Wealth” has many differences across China. In some places, the God of Wealth is received on the first day of the first lunar month, while in other places it is received on the fourth and fifth day of the first lunar month. In Suzhou, Shanghai and other places in the Qing Dynasty, early in the morning of the fifth day of the lunar month, people would beat gongs and drums, set off firecrackers, and place sacrifices to prepare to welcome the God of Wealth. Folks believed that whoever received the God of Wealth first would get more benefits, so they welcomed the God of Wealth. Gods and gods scrambled to be the first, for fear of being late and making the God of Wealth unhappy. From this, the custom of “jumping the road” was derived.
