31 Jan 2012 ~ Day 9 of the Chinese New Year Festival

Listening to: Steely Dan ~ Monkey in Your Soul

Day 9 ~ Happy Birthday to the King of Heaven ~ Jade Emperor

According to Daoism, the Jade Emperor lives in the 33rd heaven and governs 33 heavens; so he is the king of heavens. Jade Emperor is a vegetarian. To celebrate his birthday, Chinese often mix six different kinds of dry vegetables to worship him: celery, shepherd's purse spinach, green onion, garlic, mugwort and colewort). This is believed to repel the evil spirits and sickness away.

Tyson may have witnessed this event at Starbucks today... the actual hanging of the vegetables, and he was kind enough to share this photo. [And he gave me permission to use his name in this blog post.]

I was also fortunate to receive a visit and Blessing from God of Wealth at the office today. (No, the card did not actually have any money in it.)

Just to look ahead to the upcoming days of the Chinese New Year Festival:

Day 10 - Eating Day: On the next day of the Jade Emperor's birthday, there are many food left from the birthday's ceremony. People have to take care all the vegetable, animal scarifies, cakes and fruit on the 10th lunar day of the year.

Day 11 - There is no special event on the 11th lunar day. Some families will invite daughter and son-in-law back to the house to enjoy the final meal left from Jade Emperor's birthday feast. {The following is a symbol for welcome money. Do we pay our parents? Or do they pay us for leaving the house?}

Day 12 - Get Ready - The Diarrhea Day

Many people keep eating greasy food from Chinese New Year Eve for 11 days. They might have a trouble for diarrhea on this day.

So this is the symbol for Red Luck.

Also, some people have to begin to prepare the Lantern Festival, which is on the 15th lunar day.

Can't wait!!!