Three bowls of cooked rice, three cups of wine, and three cups of tea must be offered and three sticks of incense will be burned during the ritual. All family members bow down three times or kowtow three times while bowing nine times. Customs associated with "three" are very common in various ethnic groups.

Such praying activities associated with "three" during the Spring Festival ritual New Year ritual, represent the ternary-structure way of thinking, which is an important part of ancient Chinese people's philosophy when it comes to pray for the harmony and unity of heaven, earth, and man, in order to find balance between heaven and earth, the human society, and all individual, but also a way so that all gods from heaven and earth will protect the country, the society, families, and individuals with good luck, happiness and good health.

The praying activities in Spring Festival rituals also imply the quinary-structure way of thinking. In ancient times, it was a tradition to welcome the gods that descended from five directions, the God of Wealth, the God of Blessings, the God of Nobleness, the God of Delight, and the Tai Sui God. In many parts of China, the tradition is still alive.

Generally, the household should open all doors and windows at midnight on the fifth of January according to Chinese lunar calendar while lighting incense sticks and setting off firecracker to welcome the five gods who will bring fortune.

All of these traditions are associated with the quinary-structure way of thinking which is based on the theory of the five elements. In this theory it is believed that the world is material and the universe is made by five basic elements (wood, fire, metal, water, and soil).

All substances in the universe can be classified in accordance with the five basic material properties. The theory is very complex but mainly believes that that the five elements counteract with one another and coexist in harmony.

Both individuals and the society must rely on the mutual balance among the five elements to maintain a state of harmony. The absence of any of these elements will result in crisis or instability.

As can be seen from these traditions and ways of thinking, Chinese Spring Festival has very colorful cultural connotations. We should cherish the wisdom of our ancestors and consciously protect and promote the Spring Festival culture.