What are the customs of Ningde?

December 23rd and 24th of the lunar calendar are the days for offering sacrifices to stoves. After dinner, every household brought their own rich annual sugar (called "Kitchen God Sugar" in the local dialect), annual fruit and annual wine, respectfully placed them on the newly scrubbed kitchen countertops, lit candles to salute, and sincerely sent the "Kitchen God" to heaven. Knock on the kitchen god, "Heaven is good, return to drive and give to the truth". After the sacrifice, the whole family sat together to drink Kitchen God wine and eat Kitchen God candy.

next year

From the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, all the gatehouses are hung with red lanterns. Large families "please" their ancestors to hang up. A series of sacrificial vessels such as incense burners and candlesticks were placed in the middle. There are four palace lanterns hanging on the front porch. The "coffee table" and "credit chair" are arranged on both sides respectively, which are serious and dignified. The patio is paved with slabs. The ever-burning lamp in the hall is called the year of lighting. From this day on, housewives began to be busy making rice cakes, meatballs, Huang's and various sugar cakes.

Kangeng

From the evening of December 25th to the 15th day of the first lunar month, every night, the "watchmen" specially set up for telling the time and guarding against theft at the Four Gates went to the streets respectively. Work in pairs. The former holds a bamboo tube with lanterns in his left hand and a bangzi in his right hand, while the latter holds a gong in his left hand and moves back and forth in his right hand. Crossing the street and alley, playing from one watch to five watches, singing while playing. ...

For the ancestors. Two days before New Year's Eve, every family prepared a sumptuous banquet and respectfully put it in the hall for their ancestors to eat. Light candles, light incense and salute, and parents set the wine themselves. After three rounds of drinking, parents led their children and grandchildren to bow down to their ancestors in turn. Worship and salute.