On the fourth day of the New Year, local deities including the God of Wealth begin to return to their earthly stations after a lengthy stay in Heaven. They are welcomed back with firecrackers and offerings of burnt money.

The fifth day of the New Year celebration finds many Chinese families staying home. This day is called "Po Woo". It is a day to welcome the God of Wealth. The God of Wealth, called Marshal Zhao, is believed to bring people a big fortune.

It's recorded in Fengshen Bang (a list of the names of different gods in traditional Chinese legends) that a man named Zhao Gongming trained himself according to a religious doctrine in Luofu Cavity on Emei Mountain and he became immortal during the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC). When Emperor Zhou Wu (the first emperor of the Zhou Dynasty) led troops to campaign against Shang's emperor (a tyrant and the last emperor of the Shang Dynasty), Zhao stood with the tyrant and died in the war.

After his death, his soul was charged with being the deity looking after the distribution of fortune and happiness. Four demi-gods named Zhaobao, Nazhen, Zhaocai and Lishi, were assigned to him, their responsibilities all related to the granting of fortune. Thus, Zhao became the god for fortune-seeking people to venerate and to make sacrifices to.

On the fifth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, every household hurries to welcome him by exploding firecrackers or burning joss sticks. No one visits families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad luck.

Worshipped by the people from all walks of life in China, the God of Wealth has a great influence. People also greet the God of Wealth late on the eve of the Spring Festival. On the occasion, incense is burned and sacrifices are offered. The image of the God is put up in all households, hoping to have a better harvest and a better income in the new year. There is a jingle among the populace in northern China, "To open the door at the fifth geng (daybreak) on New Year's Day and to meet the God of Wealth gladly. A gold horse is tethered to a tree of money, and a gold figure stands in the treasure basin".

Editor: Catherine