After the Lunar New Year, everything looks new. After a long Lunar New Year holiday, choosing an auspicious day to start work has become a topic of concern for many companies, businesses, and stores. In Taiwan, in particular, people believe that a good start will lead to a smooth year. Choosing a suitable "auspicious day to start work" is not only a traditional custom, but also represents expectations and blessings for the new year.
According to folklore, the Five Gods of Wealth return to Earth on the fifth day of the first lunar month, leading many businesses to choose this day to begin work and welcome the gods. However, according to experts, the optimal day to begin work varies from year to year.
Auspicious date and time for construction to begin in 2025
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Auspicious day 1: The fifth day of the first lunar month (February 2, 2025)
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5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
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7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
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11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Auspicious day 2: The ninth day of the first lunar month (February 6, 2025)
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5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
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11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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Auspicious day three: the twelfth day of the first lunar month (February 9, 2025)
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7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
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9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
When choosing a start date, in addition to referring to auspicious days, you can also further confirm the most suitable time based on the company's or individual's numerology.
Groundbreaking ceremony and process
1. Worship Location
The opening ceremony should be held in a bright place at the entrance of a company or store. An altar and offerings should be placed facing the sky. The company's head or senior manager should lead all employees to participate, worship sincerely, and pray to the gods to protect the company's business and make it prosperous.
2. Worship offerings
Prepare the offerings as follows:
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A pair of flowers and a pair of red candles
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Incense and Incense Burner
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Three cups of tea or wine
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A pair of firecrackers
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Five kinds of fruit (pineapple, apple, banana, orange, date)
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Three-color gold (three longevity golds, three fortune golds, and three harvest golds)
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Steamed cakes, candies, and sweet rice dumplings (with auspicious messages like "Bringing in wealth and treasure" or "Good luck in starting a new business")
3. Sincere prayer
The main worshiper recites a prayer, reports the auspicious time for starting work, the name of the worshiper, the company name and address, and sincerely prays for the protection of the gods, so that the business will be prosperous and the fortune will be good in the new year.
4. Sacrifice Process
After the worship ceremony, follow the steps below to complete the groundbreaking ceremony:
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Burning gold paper symbolizes offering one’s heart to the gods.
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Lighting firecrackers symbolizes a successful start to the project.
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Three cups of tea or wine are poured outwards as a sign of blessing.
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Gathering up the offerings and distributing them to employees to share the blessings symbolizes continued good fortune.
On the first day of work, the boss can prepare red envelopes to give to employees, symbolizing continued good performance and abundant wealth. Colleagues can congratulate each other to create a happy atmosphere and add good luck and positive energy to the new year.
Arrangements for the start of work and the official working day
Some companies choose to hold a ceremony on an auspicious day for the start of work, but schedule the official start of work on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year or other suitable days. If the start of work date is different from the official start of work date, it is recommended to:
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Start work early : On the auspicious day for starting work, perform a worship ceremony and briefly start the equipment to symbolize the "opening of the market", after which you can officially go to work.
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Start work and go to work on the same day : After completing the worship ceremony within the auspicious time, go straight to work and let the new year be full of positive energy from the beginning.
Choosing an auspicious day for starting work is not only a traditional custom but also a way to express hope and prayer for the new year. By praying to the God of Wealth, cleaning the environment, and starting up equipment, one can ensure a successful year for one's business. Whether you're a company, a freelancer, or a self-media operator, you can choose an auspicious day to start work based on your needs, injecting good luck and motivation into the new year!