When Is Welcoming the God of Wealth? Dates for 2026–2035
Day 5 of the new year is known as "Gekai". It is the day to welcome the God of Wealth and reopen for business, and many shops and companies go back to work around it.
Welcoming the God of Wealth, 2026–2035
| Lunar year | 1st month, day 5 (Gregorian) |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Horse) | Sat, Feb 21, 2026 |
| 2027 (Goat) | Wed, Feb 10, 2027 |
| 2028 (Monkey) | Sun, Jan 30, 2028 |
| 2029 (Rooster) | Sat, Feb 17, 2029 |
| 2030 (Dog) | Thu, Feb 7, 2030 |
| 2031 (Pig) | Mon, Jan 27, 2031 |
| 2032 (Rat) | Sun, Feb 15, 2032 |
| 2033 (Ox) | Fri, Feb 4, 2033 |
| 2034 (Tiger) | Thu, Feb 23, 2034 |
| 2035 (Rabbit) | Mon, Feb 12, 2035 |
Converted by our calendar engine. Known as "Gekai"; many shops and offices reopen around this day.
How it is kept in Taiwan
- Before reopening, businesses make offerings to the God of Wealth and set off firecrackers for a prosperous year.
- Some people visit a God of Wealth temple and exchange "fortune money" there.
Wude Temple in Beigang, Yunlin, is famous for its Gods of Wealth of the Five Directions. For ways and times of worship, go by each temple's own announcements.
Welcoming the God of Wealth on day 5 in 2027 (Wed, Feb 10)
What "Gekai" means. Day 5 is known as Gekai, "the break": the New Year restrictions end here. Rubbish kept since day 1 can finally go out, things you avoided doing can be done, and many shops and companies go back to work around this day.
Welcoming the God of Wealth. Folk belief holds that the God of Wealth comes down to earth on day 5, so businesses open their doors early, set off firecrackers and lay out an offering table at the door or inside, honoring the God of Wealth and the Earth God for a prosperous year. Common offerings are fruit, fa gao, nian gao and sweet tangyuan, and the joss paper is mainly shoujin and fujin.
First-day offerings and "start-work" red envelopes. Companies usually begin the first workday with an offering, then the boss hands out start-work red envelopes, for a "red open door," a lucky start. The exact first workday follows each company's announcement; government offices follow the official announcement.
Picking the hour. For those who want to be particular, choose a Yellow Path hour of the day to open the doors; the almanac below and the business opening dates finder both show them.
One thing to note for 2027: day 5 (Wed, Feb 10) is a monthly taboo day in the almanac, and the day's entries also say avoid opening for business. In Taiwan it is common to go back to work and reopen on day 5 by custom, and that is fine; if you would rather follow the almanac, see the days favorable for opening after New Year in Lunar New Year 2027.
Who the God of Wealth is: the Five Directions, civil and martial
Folk religion has more than one God of Wealth. The common "Gods of Wealth of the Five Directions" are led by Zhao Gongming, joined by four others (Zhaobao, Nazhen, Zhaocai and Lishi), standing for the roads to wealth opening in all five directions; there are also the civil Gods of Wealth (Bi Gan, Fan Li) and the martial ones (Guan Gong, Zhao Gongming), and temples honor different ones.
Welcoming the God of Wealth on day 5 goes hand in hand with Gekai: after several days of rest with no trading, everything resumes on day 5 and shops reopen, so naturally the God of Wealth is welcomed first, for a prosperous year. In northern China day 5 is also called Powu, "breaking the fifth," with the same meaning: the holiday restrictions end on this day.
How the God of Wealth is welcomed varies by place; commonly an offering table is set at the door facing outward to receive him, and some people visit a God of Wealth temple and exchange "fortune money." We do not recommend particular temples or compare efficacy; what really counts in business is the product, the service and financial discipline.
Common sayings around day 5
| The custom | Where it comes from and what it means |
|---|---|
| No rubbish out before day 5 | Rubbish from days 1 to 4 waits until Gekai on day 5, so wealth does not flow out; today most people keep this only on day 1. |
| Offerings first, then open the doors | For a smooth first sale of the year; practice differs from trade to trade. |
| Start-work red envelopes | Given by the boss or managers to staff; the amount does not matter, the good omen does. |
Practice differs by region; follow the customs of your family and your workplace.
The almanac for day 5 in 2027, and which sign it clashes
February 10, 2027 is day 5 of the new year. Its almanac entries and clash are below; by custom, an owner whose sign the day clashes asks another family member or a colleague to open the doors.
| Date | Wed, Feb 10, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Lunar date | 1st lunar month, day 5 · Geng-Shen day |
| Favorable | Seeing a doctor, Medical treatment, Demolishing a house, Taking down walls (nothing else) |
| Avoid | Business opening, Marriage |
| Clash and sha | clashes with the Tiger (寅); sha in the due south |
| Day spirit and officer | Heavenly Prison (Black Path) · Destruction day |
| Folk taboo days | monthly taboo day |
The day branch is Shen (申), the Monkey's branch. It clashes with the Tiger; it forms a Six Combination with the Snake and a trine with the Rat and Dragon. No other sign clashes.
Calculated by our calendar engine (the same one behind the date finder and daily almanac); printed almanacs sometimes differ.
Look up a deity's birthday
Pick a deity and a year to see the Gregorian date, or enter a Gregorian date to see whose day it is. Everything is calculated in your browser.
In "Deity → Gregorian date" the year is the lunar year, so sending off the gods in the 12th month lands in January or February of the next Gregorian year. Conversions use the same engine as the lunar calendar converter.
A common misconception
There is only one God of Wealth.
Folk religion has several: a civil God of Wealth, martial ones (Zhao Gongming, Guan Gong), the Gods of Wealth of the Five Directions and more, and beliefs differ from place to place.
Other deity birthdays
A straight word: this is a folk-religion calendar
Most deity birthdays are dates handed down in popular tradition, and temples and schools sometimes differ. We use the dates most common in Taiwan and work out the Gregorian dates carefully so you can plan ahead. For how to worship, follow the temple's own rules; many temples now encourage less incense and good deeds in place of burning paper money. We make no claims about efficacy, and everything here is for reference and entertainment.
Beyond the deity calendar, read your own chart
Enter your birthday to get your BaZi four pillars for free and see your Five Elements and Ten Gods.
Welcoming the God of Wealth: common questions
When is Welcoming the God of Wealth in 2026?
Sat, Feb 21, 2026. In 2027 it falls on Wed, Feb 10, 2027.
What lunar date is Welcoming the God of Wealth?
The 1st lunar month, day 5. Known as "Gekai"; many shops and offices reopen around this day.
Do businesses have to reopen on day 5?
No. Day 5 is the customary day to go back to work, but the first workday follows each company's announcement; to follow the almanac, choose a day after New Year that it marks favorable for opening.
Is day 5 of 2027 a good day to open for business?
In the almanac, February 10, 2027 is a monthly taboo day, and its entries also say avoid opening. In Taiwan it is common to reopen on day 5 by custom; if you mind the almanac, choose another day favorable for opening.
Which zodiac sign does day 5 of 2027 clash with?
February 10, 2027 is a Geng-Shen day, which clashes with the Tiger.
Who are the Gods of Wealth of the Five Directions?
The common version has Zhao Gongming at their head, joined by Zhaobao, Nazhen, Zhaocai and Lishi, standing for wealth from all five directions; versions differ slightly from place to place.
Do I have to honor the God of Wealth on day 5?
No. Welcoming the God of Wealth is a folk custom; whether and how to do it depends on your family or company. For a business, day-to-day running is what really matters.