Second day of New Year, worship the god, eat wontons

CNY Day Two: Worship the God of Money and Eat Wontons!

Irene Li, Associate Editor | Feb 2, 2022 12:00 pm | Add a comment | 304 reads

The second day of Lunar New Year has arrived! What are some things people do today?

1. Worship the God of Money

One of the most important traditions of the second day of Lunar New Year is to worship the god of money. People visit temples (more common during a non-pandemic year) to pray for good fortune for the entire year. They also offer sacrifices like fish and lamb to show respect.

On this day, many places have sacrificial ceremonies. One place many Beijingers go to is Badachu, which is close to Fragrant Hills and the Western Hills on the west side of the city. You can also head to Huairou District and visit Hongluo Temple, which is about 34 miles northeast of downtown Beijing, to pray for good luck.

2. Eat wontons

As if dumplings weren't enough, the second day of Chinese New Year is reserved entirely for another pouch of meaty goodness: wontons! Lao Beijingers wake up before the sun rises to make these treats, but if you want to forgo making them and get straight to the luck, head over to any Nanchengxiang (南城香) location and chomp down on some delicious shrimp wontons.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for something vegetarian, say, mushrooms mixed with water chestnut, I'd recommend trying Yuanji Dumplings (袁记云饺), another great restaurant with multiple locations across the city.

3. Family reunion dinners

You've probably already had your reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve with your family or friends. So why bother with another dinner, right? Well, in Chinese culture, the dinner on the second day of the new year celebration matters a lot because it can affect your luck for the entire year. Make sure to treat yourself to some juicy chicken or braised pork in brown sauce.

Many places in town will be perfect for reunion dinners, and what’s better than than celebrating Chinese New Year with authentic Beijing flavors? You can head to Zongbu Hutong (总布胡同) for their crispy Peking duck, or hop on over to Xincheng Beijing Cai (新城北京菜) for their roast meat. You won't regret it!