Today is the 24th day of the twelfth moon according the lunar calendar. On this day, most Chinese will be sending their zhao jun (Kitchen Dewa) off to Dewa Realm to have an audience with yu wang da di (the Jade Emperor). The Chinese believe that he will report on the happening of the house he dwelt in to the Jade Emperor for the past year. Hence the Chinese usually offer nian gao (Chinese New Year cake) to him in the hope that he will say good words about them to yu wang da di.
The Kitchen Dewa will be with the Jade Emperor until the fourth day of the Chinese New Year.
This custom of sending off zhao jun to the realm of the dewas has been practised since our ancestors' time. To me it reminds us to behave ourselves all the time as our act is under the surveillance of dewas, Gods or whatever you want to call them. It keeps us on our toes every now and then.
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