Newspaper article on Hokkien celebrations which I missed........
Going back to my hotel about 1am this morning I came across the smouldering remains of some religious ceremony that had taken place at midnight to mark New Year (I had been told it was Hokkien New Year - but I think it's more of a continuation of New Year celebrations done on 9th day after New Year by Hokkien people). I was unaware of the event - so I took these photos later during daylight. They show where the ceremony took place - at the restaurant where I received Angpow at Chinese New Year.
It remains to be seen if some more events will take place today to mark Hokkien New Year. Wikipedia gave the following info about today's significance Ninth day of the new year - The ninth day of the New Year is a day for Chinese to offer prayers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven (天公) in the Taoist Pantheon. The ninth day is traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor. This day is especially important to Hokkiens and Teochews (Min Nan speakers). 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. Tea is served as a customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person.
For more on Hokkien people see:-
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