GEORGE TOWN: Whatever you do at home, some Chinese believe that Zhao Jun, otherwise referred to as the Kitchen God, knows.
The deity is said to have a dotted line to the Jade Emperor – ruler of heaven – himself, and on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month, this deity will return from earth to report on everything you and your family had done in the past year.
So those who believe that this is the case will hold a ceremony at midnight between Jan 23 and 24 at home to send the Kitchen God off, complete with offerings of candy and other sticky sweet food.
This offering is in hopes that whatever reports presented to the Jade Emperor would be just as sweet, as the belief goes.
Chinese prayer goods shop owner Ho Kok Peng, 63, noticed a happy occurrence this year, when he saw many young customers buying items needed for the ritual.
“They usually come with their parents.
“Most of them, especially those who are still staying with their parents, told me that it is important for them to continue the tradition,” he said when met at his shop in Ayer Itam yesterday.
“In fact, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I felt that more people practised it as it can be done in the comfort of their homes.
“We usually sell the prayer items in a set that includes the sending-off paper, horse paper, longevity paper, gold and silver paper, fu (fortune) paper and gui ren (noble person) paper, among others.
“Long ago, people would offer a piece of sugar cane in a red packet but nowadays, it is replaced with sweets,” he said, adding that some would burn paper hats, clothes and shoes for the Kitchen God.
Despite the higher inventory cost, Ho said he strives to keep prices affordable for his customers.
“Some of the items are shipped in from China, thus there is an increase in their cost.
“For items that we source locally, the shortage of foreign workers caused labour charges to increase.
“We had to unfortunately raise prices, but we still only charge customers RM5 for everything, as we want them to continue practising this ritual,” he said.
Besides the prayer items, many people also offer thnee kuih (sticky glutinous rice cakes), red dates, sweets and mandarin oranges at the altar.
“This is to thank the Kitchen God for the blessings and to pray for a good year ahead with good fortune.
“Thnee kuih is a must during the annual send-off as the sweet glutinous rice cake is said to sweeten the deity’s mood and ‘seal’ his lips to prevent him from making unfavourable reports.
“After sending off the Kitchen God, most people will welcome him back on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year,” he said.
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