The story behind this tradition was that in ancient times, the Hokkien tribe/clan was chased by an evil general and hid in a sugarcane plantation. And on the early morning of the 9th day of Chinese Lunar New Year, they emerged from the plantation and found that the enemy had left and so they gave thanks to the Jade Emperor for delivering them from the enemy. Sugarcane is a must have item for the ritual as it also symbolizes the plantation they hid in. I guess due to the cultural revolution in China, this ceremony is now only a big thing in Singapore, some parts of Malaysia and in Taiwan.
I still remember fondly my grandmother performing this thanksgiving ritual. Back then, it was a lot more elaborate. The offerings included a whole roast pig, braised duck, chicken, numerous types of fruits and of course sugarcane. I remember taking photos of the ceremony. I just need to find the time to dig through all my old stuff in the storeroom to find them. I hope the pictures are still around.
The ritual at Stan’s is a lot more simplified. But nonetheless, it is a good way of keeping the Hokkien culture alive. Since this is my new blog, I have decided to place this posting so that I can share this with my new readers. Do goggle the topic under Pai Ti Kong if you wish to find out more.
