Jade Emperor God´s birthday

USPA NEWS - Hokkien New Year ““ Thni Kong Seh (Jade Emperor God´s birthday)
Date: 17th February 2013
Time: 7pm to midnight
Location: Chew Jetty, George Town, Penang
Organizer: Chew Jetty Committee
Tel: 012-4126809

The folk tale has it that the Hokkiens escaped mistreatment by ruthless army in ancient China by seeking refuge in a sugarcane plantation. They emerged unharmed on the 8th day of Chinese New Year. The birthday of the Jade Emperor. Hence the New Year of Hokkiens. Hokkien New Year is celebrated widely in Penang. The Hokkien community in Chew Jetty is celebrating this year´s Thni Kong Seh in a grand scale. Over 30 long tables of food and fruits, big bottles of cognac and trays, baskets, and sugarcane stalks.

The eve of the Jade Emperor´s birthday last night was a joyous affair as devotees thronged the clan jetties in George Town and the Jade Emperor Temple (Thnee Kong Tnuah) in Air Itam to make their offerings to the deity.

The deity´s birthday, which falls on the ninth day of the Lunar new year, is usually observed by the Hokkien community with offerings of sugar cane, roast pigs, fruits, ang koo (glutinous rice cakes), mee koo (red buns) and huat kuih (steamed rice cakes).

According to Taoist belief, the Jade Emperor or Thnee Kong, is considered the supreme ruler of the heaven and universe and this grand celebration, considered even more grand than the first day of the Chinese New Year, is also regarded as the start of the Hokkien New Year.