The ‘Kitchen God’ (灶君) is a common sight near ancestral kitchen stoves in the New Territories. According to folklore, the Kitchen God makes an annual trip to the heavenly court on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month to report to the ‘Jade Emperor’ (玉皇大帝) about human affairs, facilitating the adjudication of rewards and penalties. Offerings such as wine, sugar, pork and money are prepared by villagers as ‘bribes’ for the Kitchen God, in the custom known as the ‘worshipping the Kitchen God’ (「祭灶」). Customary practices in different regions may vary, but typically involve a sweet treat that is both sugary and gooey. For example, chaguo (茶粿), tangyuan (湯丸) and sugarcane are commonly used, symbolizing ‘sweet talk’, and the sealing of the Kitchen God’s mouth to prevent unfavourable remarks.
Following the completion of the rituals and the Kitchen God’s return to the heavenly court, the phase known as ‘Entrance to the New Year’ (「入年掛」) commences. During this period, agricultural activities are set aside to make way for Lunar New Year customs like cleaning the kitchen, preparing festive items, steaming Hakka Year Cake (蒸圓籠粄), and hanging Spring Festival Couplets.
Event highlights
The task of the day is to tidy up the kitchen and worship the Kitchen God. Once the accumulated dirt and grease from the previous year have been removed, participants can bake Hakka Year Cake together.