The Kitchen God
The twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month is when the Kitchen God is sent off back to heaven, where on the twenty-forth he will report the doings of the family to the Jade Emperor.
The sending off ceremony is very important. Throughout the year, the Kitchen God watched over the household from his alter in the kitchen, and observed the doings of the family. Thus sweet foods like sugar preserved winter melon, and malt sugar candy are offered to 'sweeten' his mouth before he goes, so that he will say more of the good things about the household. Dried grass and water are also offered to the horse that served as the Kitchen God's transport.
People will not wish to have bad-debts over New Year, and creditors will start to collect debts from this day. Thus this day also mark the beginning of a period of cat and mouse chase between the creditors and debtors until New Year's Eve.
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