Hokkien New Year (拜天公）is a festival that is celebrated by the Hokkien on the ninth day of Chinese New Year. This festival is widely known among the Chinese of Malaysia, Singapore, and China. Hokkien in these countries will celebrate the festival from the night of the eighth day of new year until the morning of the ninth day of new year to appreciate and thank the help from Jade Emperor.
The origin of this festival comes from the Ming Dynasty in China when the Hokkien are attacked by pirates during Chinese new year. That time the Hokkien hid into a field of sugarcane at night to escape from the attack. It was the morning of the ninth day of new year when the attack was over. Therefore, the Hokkien believed that they would be able to survive the attack was because of the help of the Jade Emperor. Hence, every year the Hokkien will celebrate from the night of the eighth day until the morning of the ninth day with firecrackers, roasted pig, and sugarcane as appreciation for the help from Jade Emperor.
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