A typical religious ceremony
The festival There are various things that we Chinese are in the habit of doing at temples, and we’ve being doing it since ancient times. We offer meat and wine to the gods. We light candles, burn incense, throw divination blocks, burn spirit money, and set off firecrackers… but not all at once, mind you! We found an old gazetteer that describes the typical sequence of events when there’s a festival held in honor of a particular god.

1. Pork, chicken, fish, and seafood (and possibly also duck, goose, and eggs) are placed before the deity.

2. Candles are lit.
3. Three cups of tea are placed before the deity.

4. Incense is burned to welcome the deity.

5. A first toast is raised to the deity.

6. Divination blocks are thrown to ask the deity questions about the future.

7. The deity takes possession of its statue, and a second toast is raised.

8. If anyone has questions for the deity, divination blocks are thrown.

9. The celebrant holds up spirit money and firecrackers in both hands for the deity to inspect.

10. The spirit money is burned and the firecrackers are set off.

11. A third toast is raised.

12. Divination blocks are thrown to ask the deity whether it is finished eating.

13. Wine is poured on the ashes of the spirit money to make sure that dangerous embers don’t get scattered by the wind.

14. After the ceremony is finished, the food offerings are collected.

Note: Due to today’s emphasis on conservation of resources, spirit money is no longer burned in religious ceremonies at Lungshan Temple, which shows that Lungshan Temple is very much in touch with the concerns of the faithful.