The 9th Day of Chinese New Year

The 8th evening of Chinese New Year is an important date for our family. Hokkiens celebrate Jade Emperor's birthday and their deliverance from the Japanese on this evening. Although we no longer take part in the worship, it was a good time of family gathering.

I'm also going to use this experience for my fieldtrip report. My Southeast Asian module requires me to write up an essay after observing a ritual (religious or not) in Singapore.

Sugarcane would be featured in my report. Hokkiens believe that the Jade Emperor saved them from the Japanese during the Ming Dynasty by hiding them in the sugarcane plantation. A variation of this story is heard from my grandmother. Japanese soldiers are still baddies, but the setting is in WWII. A Southeast Asian adaptation perhaps?

These are my 1 Aunt, Ah Ma & Cousin Marvin.


These are the incense papers to be burnt at 12mn.


With confirmation after the phone call at 8pm, Ah Pek (1 Uncle) hurries to light the joss-sticks.




And the family gathers at the living room, waiting in anticipation for...



Oh yes. The lion dance troup came. Noticed the deity on the altar is Guan Yin? She is supposed to be a male bodhisattva from India, under the religion of Buddhism.







On the other hand, Jade Emperor is a deity from Taoism. It's interesting to observe the worship of deities from different faiths, under the same roof. A Southeast Asian adaptation again? xP


Oh yes. Everyone is looking for the 'magic number' left behind by the lion dance troup.



Up next, LOH HEI~ We had to set up 2 tables to 'loh hei' together.



The evening ended with a bowl of mee sua with a hard-boiled egg and abalone for everyone. The length of the mee sua is supposed to symbolise longevity in the year ahead.