9th Day of The Chinese New Year
As the story was orally passed down. Facts can be distorted from actual history. So if you think this is wrong, feel free to let me know the ‘real’ facts. But please do not undermine my credibility, as one reader has done bluntly in an e-mail. I, on the other hand would love to find out about my own culture, but to attack me personally for something that I researched only by interviewing people and reading a few articles, is going a bit too far. Yes, I will expressed that I am hurt. But this will not deter me from publishing this (even though it is an online version)
Hokkien New Year by Adeline Ong
On the 9th day of the Lunar New Year, the Hokkiens celebrate their saviour, the Jade Emperor’s (also known as Ti-Kong in Hokkien) compassion for saving their clan. The celebration, known as Pai Ti Kong, literally translated to Praying to the Heavenly God, commemorates this act.
Legend has it that the Hokkiens, once angered another Chinese dialect group in China. This group vowed to wipe off the entire Hokkien race. The Hokkiens, fearing for their lives, hid in the sugarcane plantations. For days on end, they survived by eating the sugarcane. Undeterred by the thick sugarcane groves, the enemies started to burn the sugarcanes, in hope of killing the hiding survivors.
In fear and desperation, the Hokkiens prayed to the Heavens, seeking the mercy of the Jade Emperor. In answer to their plight, the Heavens opened up and heavy rain began to fall on Earth, forcing the angry pursuers to retreat and extinguishing the flames. By midnight of the 9th day, the Hokkiens emerged from their sanctuary, unharmed.
From that day onwards, the 9th day of the Chinese New Year is celebrated with prayers of Thanksgiving. The 9 th day is also known as the Jade Emperor’s birthday.
On the eve of the celebration, Hokkien houses will be seen decked with praying paraphernalia. This usually consists of a big red altar with two sticks of sugarcane tied on both ends. The sugarcane is a must as it reminds the Hokkiens of how their race was saved during the genocide. Elaborated folded joss paper resembling gold and silver ingots, known as Ti Kong Kim, adorns the altar. A variety of foods are offered, from roast pigs to ducks, traditional kuihs and fruits. Some Hokkiens will offer vegetarian dishes only because they believe it is sinful to offer meat (blood) as to commemorate being saved from execution.
Prayers usually start from Midnight and ends around 2 a.m. with a small bonfire, burning the Ti Kong Kim. The food offered to the Jade Emperor is deemed blessed and is often distributed among family members.
Nowadays, the prayers are done to express gratitude for the past year and seeking blessings for the New Year. Commonly, people will ask for blessings for their family, career, studies and business. It is also believed that wishes made on this auspicious night will come true because the Jade Emperor is generous on his Birthday