Why Chinese women worshipped the Toilet Goddess during the Lantern Festival

On the eve of the Lantern Festival – which is celebrated on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year (this year on March 3, 2026) – during the Song and Qing dynasties, some Chinese women would clean their outhouses to invite the so-called Toilet Goddess. People believed inviting the goddess Zigu on this night would protect their family’s harmony. They also sought answers about harvests, the weather, and family fortunes by observing moving chopsticks. This faded rural ritual now primarily exists in folklore but has recently seen an AI revival.