Penang Chinese usher in Hokkien New Year with grand offerings

Law (middle) showing her daughter Chew May Hwei, 11, (right) the proper way to fold joss paper into gold ingots at their home in Chew Jetty, Penang. With them is their neighbour, Chan Wooi Ni, 19.

THE Jade Emperor is revered as the emperor and supreme deity of heaven, the Chinese pantheon of gods.

In Chinese mythology, he was once a human prince who eventually inherited his father’s kingdom and made sure all his subjects knew peace and contentment.

He eventually renounced the world, became a priest and cultivated his virtues for 327 million years to become the king of heaven.

People celebrate his birthday on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, which is today.

Many Penang Chinese — who are mostly Hokkiens — are fervent about it because a popular folklore extols his benevolence when he protected Hokkiens in China from an invading army.

They make grand offerings on an altar starting from midnight to pay homage and their devotion.

A resident showing a giant pineapple-shaped thnee kong poh and mee koo (tortoise buns) for the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebration at Chew Jetty, George Town. Lim (right pic, seated) and Lee preparing offerings for the celebration. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star 

Housewife Law Cheah Nia, 39, said the warring times might have been a thing of the past but they kept the tradition alive to pray for good health and success.

“Every year, we do it to give thanks to his divine intervention.

“There is importance in observing the tradition to pray that our families will remain in the pink of health,” said the mother of two yesterday when met at Chew Jetty.

Lim Ah Koay, 91, said she had never skipped the ritual since she moved into Chew Jetty 70 years ago.

She is helped by her daughter-in-law Lee Choon Har, 62, who said the key offerings were pineapples, a popular offering as its Hokkien name, ong lai also means ‘inviting prosperity’.

Another popular offering is ang koo (mung bean paste cakes shaped like tortoise shells) to symbolise longevity.

Lim also readied eight mee koo (red tortoise buns) which similarly represents longevity.

Lim (right pic, seated) and Lee preparing offerings for the celebration. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star 

The nonagenarian and her daughter-in-law made sure there were huat kuih too, which means prosperity cakes.

Lim said her daughter-in-law took over the task of preparing the essentials as walking had become difficult for her.

“We value filial piety and our traditions pass down from one generation to another, we keep what we love going,” she said.

Chan Wooi Ni, 19, said the festivity was a time for family togetherness as everyone helped with the preparations.

She said it was a joint effort to keep the century-old tradition in the jetty going.

“Regardless of age, each member of my family takes part in the occasion and it is the time we bond,” she said.