Sugarcane and the Ninth Day of CNY

 By: ryan    11:26 AM  Worth A Read   No comments

As early as 6.40am, I already awake by the noisy car door's slamming before these people leaving to the wet market behind my house. 7.25am, I past by the wet market place and saw many aunties uncles carrying sugarcanes. Then I wonder what and why with all of these sugarcanes? Then only I recall tomorrow is the ninth day of Chinese New Year.

"The ninth day of the New Year is a day for Chinese to offer prayers to the Jade Emperor of  Heaven (天宮) in the Taoist Pantheon. The ninth day is traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor. This day is especially important to Hokkiens. Come midnight of the eighth day of the new year, Hokkiens will offer thanks giving prayers to the Emperor of Heaven. Offerings will include sugarcane as it was the sugarcane that had protected the Hokkiens from certain extermination generations ago. Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and paper gold is served as a customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person." - Wikipedia

Why all the sugarcane? There are many versions of the why sugarcane is the main and essential item that offered to the Jade Emperor. And here is the version where I heard from my Hokkien friend.

Once upon a time, the Hokkiens in dunno which part of China were trying to escape from an ethnic group who attempt to kill all the Hokkien-Chinese. The Hokkiens fled into the forest which was surrounded by sugarcanes. Because they keep prayed to the Jade Emperor for help, no matter how the ethnic group tried to enter the forest, they were severely cut by the leaves of the sugarcane. So the ethnic group unable to locate the Hokkiens people in the sugarcane's hideout until the 8th day of Chinese New Year. After being tired of searching and the wounds caused by the sugarcane's protection then only the ethnic group flee. Therefore, on the 9th of the Chinese New Year, these Hokkien-Chinese only went home and re-celebrated their Chinese New Year. Not only did they celebrate their new year on the 9th day of CNY but on these day too they pray for the Jade Emperor to thanks him. Some would say that on the 9th day of CNY is also the birthday of the Jade Emperor.

Normally on the eighth day of Chinese New Year, you will see many Chinese families put sugarcanes in front of their house on this day. They believe that the sugarcanes can protect their family from harm and enemies throughout the year.

On this very day, Hokkien-Chinese family members will gather together (something like reunion dinner) before 12 o'clock to count down the coming ninth day of Chinese New Year. The Hokkien-Chinese prepare roasted-pork, red cakes (Fatt gao), vegetables and fruits as thanks to the Jade Emperor and gods. By 12 o'clock some will let off fire-crackers, fireworks and also lion's dance to mark the arrival of their New Year.

Wishing you all a Happy Chinese New year :)