~ December ~

The Month of Preparation

It is no wonder that the last month of the old year is given over to preparation. Besides, the New Year is a holiday, and there is much to get ready for it as well. The twentieth day of the Twelfth Moon is marked on the calendar as the day of sweeping the floors. That means a complete house cleaning begins in every home. The operation is symbolic as well as practical. Removing the old year's dust and dirt stands also for getting rid of its shortcomings and disapoointments. Material renovation signifies spiritual and social renewal. Chinese housewives begin to stock up for the coming holiday period. Having bought the ingredients the women must set to and cook them fast since once the New Year dawns no one may use a knife or indeed do any work at all for two days, so that the days at the end of the month are the busiest of the year in the kitchen. Because all shops will be closed for several days, people are busy buying gifts for friends and relatives.

The Kitchen God Visits Heaven

It is a day the Kitchen (Stove) God is supposed to leave for Heaven. The Kitchen God is very old indeed, like T'o Tei Kung but more closely identified with the household than the house. Also, he is a kind of censor of the family's behaviour and once a year he is supposed to make a report to the Jade Emperor in Heaven. On this day, his picture is taken down for renewal and it is ceremonially burned outside the kitchen to send him on his way. Before he goes, he is worshipped with incense and candles and given a delicious meal of glutinous rice and honey or sugar and sometimes wine as well - smeared all over his mouth to make sure that what he says will be sweet and flattering. Traditionally, there are three dates in the year for the Chinese paying debts : before New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. The most important of these is Chinese New Year. Because most people live on credit, they have to pay off all debts before the New Year dawns, so the last days of the month, a great scurrying around to collect and pay. That's why employees love to receive annual gratituty of an extra month's pay well in advance. On the last day of the month, people put up the new luck-bringing papers include strips of red paper pasting on each side of the front door and across the lintel at the top. They always have favourable words written on the, usually referring to wealth, longevity and the gift of songs. Over the lintel, is the wish. Lucky papers can be pasted anywhere in the house. At the same time, the pictures of a new pair of Door Gods are posted. By the 26th day, the Flower Market open, roads are packed with lorries piled high with little trees and plants. The favourite plant to buy at New Year is a small peach tree just coming into bloom. Peach wood is the ancient and most potent enemy of demons and the peach itself is an emblem of longevity. Everyone likes to have flowers that are just opening to signify openness to all the good. Another popularity are bright green bushes laden with tiny oranges (kumquats), in Chinese language it sounds the same as those for gold and lucky. Then, there are Hanging Bell Flowers, and fragrant white jonquils which grow from bulbs placed in water withoug earth. The Flower Markets build up to a climax on New Year's Eve. Staying late enough, you can get good bargains. Most people just pushing gently through the crowds, enjoying the anticipation of the coming holidays. Buying here and there, is enough. No one should miss the Flower Markets!

January	May	September
February	June	October
March	July	November
April	August	December

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