GEORGE TOWN: Sweet, sticky glutinous rice cakes (nian gao) are must-haves as offerings to Zhao Jun (Kitchen God) as it is believed that only then will he report good things about a household to the Jade Emperor.
For many in the Chinese community, they believe that the deity has a “direct line” to the ruler of heaven.
The belief is that on the 24th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar, Zhao Jun will return from earth to report on everything you and your family have done in the past year.
It is a Chinese folk belief dating back more than 2,200 years, rooted in early household customs.
Historically, it reflected the importance of the hearth or stove in agrarian society.
Early Chinese societies believed in protective household spirits associated with the door, well, stove, courtyard and house.
This was later absorbed into the Taoist pantheon.
Today, its observance is widely regarded as a heritage practice tied to Chinese New Year.
For Teh Guat Khim, 38, it has been a family tradition to observe special prayers conducted for the Kitchen God.
“My parents did it and now I am carrying on the tradition with the guidance of my mother.
“It is a simple prayer as we conduct it in the kitchen and place offerings at the altar. This includes joss paper clothing including a traditional hat, shoes and an outfit.
“We offer food in the form of nian gao, mandarin oranges, candied melon and Chinese tea,” she said when met at her house in Air Itam.
Teh said these offerings do not include meat or cooked food other than the nian gao.
The prayers, she said, are conducted at midnight on the special day, which fell on Tuesday night in the Gregorian calendar.
“Many no longer observe this but I want to carry on my family’s rituals and traditions and pray for peace and a good year.
“This year in particular, I am praying for my family’s health and career success, and favourable weather in the new year,” said the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
Teh said her mother had always emphasised the need for nian gao when offering prayers especially to the Kitchen God as it is said to imply improved living standards and career advancement in the coming year.
