Parents use to tell me that Tin Kung day is very special praying event to the Hokkiens..
Some simplified story ...
Long long time ago (during Chinese Ming Dynasty).. the Hokkien lost a war n they had to flee their villlage and hid in the sugarcane fields.
The enemy soldiers tried to find them for day but failed.
After some time the enemy grew tired of searching the fields and returned to their own areas.
They came out from the sugarcane fields is on the 9th day of the Chinese New Year.
From that day onwards every 9th day of the CNY, they offered gifts to the Yu Huang, the Supreme Ruler of Heaven for their salvation.
That is why that you could see that a lot of people are buying sugar cane for the prayers....
However these few year I have not been buying sugar cane.. some simplified version of sugar cane of mine......
I am using the extract sugar cane water (in 1.5L bottle) to represent d sugar cane plant...
Well .. last time we used to buy sugarcane plant .. but after the prayers we do not know what to do with it...
Either throw or send to the sugar cane juice seller to extract for us ..
(normally they will charge us very expensive)
My parents would prefer to have a small prayers....... just for our family...
However I did invite one of my good friend to join us for Tin Kung prayers...
We started @ 12.00am and finished d prayers by 1.30pm..
Then it come to my fav part .. eating Siu Yuk .....
(FYI - I wake up at 6.00am to go to SS2 market just to buy siu yuk..)
I helped my mum to cut the siu yuk n then fried it....to make it crispier......
Finished up everything by 3.00am ( have to watch all d candles finished burning)....
Need to sleep d whole day .. yawnnnnnnnnnn.....
Hi, Happy Chinese New Year. Thanks for stopping by at my blog and also for your encouragement. I'm glad to meet you.
ReplyDeletehie hie ....
Deleteu r welcome .... thanks 4 dropping by also...
That's a very smart improvisation
ReplyDeletewell ...i think next time ppl will start to use Drinho packet sugar cane drink... LOL
DeleteHi, I must say that's very smart and economical~!! =D haha =D do visit my blog and drop comments too =D life-in-loneliness.blogspot.com
DeleteLOL .. well is just that it is a bit wasted for just to throw the sugar cane after prayers...
Deleteso after prayers everyone could enjoy a cold refreshing sugar cane juice....
Waaa....fry the siew yuk again ah? I think my cholesterol level will shoot up. LOL! :P
ReplyDeleteActually fry the siu yuk is more healthy...
DeleteI put some oil and it comes out 1 bowl of pork lark...
It will be nice if you add one spoon to maggie mee.. Nice..
But my wife forbid me .... sighhhhhhh
oh, my family doesn't usually follow the traditional chinese customs and rituals, so i've never had to experience this before. but i'd want to eat the siu yok, heh :D
ReplyDeleteSean - I had been eating siu yuk from the eve.... but is still love it...
DeleteI don't know about you, but i found a very good siu yuk at SS2 wet market (lasy seller).
But now she only work for weekends .. too rich already..
Any nice siu yuk to recommend ?
wah... still haven end a.. XD
ReplyDeleteCNY is till 15th (chap gop meh) ....
Deletemore to come .. LOL....
Gong Xi Fa Cai ! So you are a Hokkien too..Ya, Pai Tin Kong is a big celebration for Hokkien peoples..
ReplyDeleteyup yup ..north hokkien lang..
ReplyDeleteit is big celebration .. but i just had a normal prayers only....
Ya...such events are really big there - like the 7th Month of the Hungry Ghosts. Nothing much here - I think most are Christians. Ooooo...I want that siu yuk! Yum! Yum! Muahahahahaha!!!!!
ReplyDeletesibu a lot of foochow...
Deleteif my wish come true this year... i will get a whole roast pig next CNY.. wink wink ...
Chinese decorations are so colourful and striking. I always feel alive when I see them.
ReplyDeleteIt is pricey as well...
Deleteanyway I enjoy the celebration with my loves one n family.. it make the relationship closer...
as u know everyone is busy with their work and this is the time to spend some time together.. nice...
That is I always look forward for those chinese celebrations....
Like that also can? Sugarcane juice represent sugarcane sticks? lol
ReplyDeletewell in this modern society .. everything is possible..
DeleteSome even play the fire cracker sound (frm ipad) for d replacement of the real one .. muahahahaha..
Happy Chinese New Year... Wah, it takes 3 hours to finish the prayer?
ReplyDeletewell actually it takes about 1.5 hrs...
DeleteMake sure that the candle to b complete finished burning before i go to sleep...
Siu Yuk is a must during this Jade Emperor prayer! ;)
ReplyDeleteyup yup...
Deletei purposely wake up at 6.00am just to buy siu yuk...