Why do we eat stove candy during the Little New Year? It is said that stove candy is a necessary food for offering sacrifices to the stove god.

During the Lunar New Year’s Eve, people have the custom of eating stove candy. So, why do we eat stove candy during the Little New Year? What is the meaning of eating stove candy during the Little New Year? Let’s take a look together.

Why do we eat stove sugar during the Little New Year: traditional customs

According to traditional customs, people worship the Kitchen God and eat kitchen candy every year on the Little New Year. Stove sugar is a type of maltose, a sweet that sticks to your mouth and teeth. An old saying goes, "On the 23rd, stove sugar is sticky and the Kitchen God is about to ascend to heaven." It is said that stove candy was originally used to offer sacrifices to the stove god. In addition to hoping that the stove god would eat the sweets, he would say good things to the Jade Emperor. It is also said that it is to shut the mouth of the Kitchen God, who is greedy and gossipy.

Why do we eat stove candy during the Little New Year: The origin of stove candy

Legend has it that Lu Mengzheng, the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, lived in a temple when he was a child. The elders in the temple were well-versed in classics and had a unique skill in making a local snack - sesame candy. Although Lu Meng's family was very poor, he was gifted, diligent and studious, and was highly regarded by the elders. Therefore, the elder not only taught him to read and write, and compose poetry every day, but also often gave him and his mother some sesame candies to taste. On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month in 976 AD, people were busy sending the Kitchen God to heaven. When Lu Mengzheng saw that the people offered food to the Kitchen God but he had nothing to offer, he used sesame candy from the temple to stick on the painting of the Kitchen God. When the Kitchen God returned to the Heavenly Palace, the Emperor asked him questions, but he wanted to speak but could not open his mouth and just nodded. The Jade Emperor thought that the "God of Kitchen Fire" repeatedly praised Lu Mengzheng's character, so he issued an edict to bless him and grant him an official position. The next year, Lü Mengzheng indeed won the top spot in the imperial examination among hundreds of candidates across the country. From then on, every year on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the people would follow Lu Mengzheng's example and offer sesame candies to the "Kitchen God" and pray for the Jade Emperor to bestow blessings. In this way, it has been passed down from generation to generation to this day.

Things to note when eating stove candy during the Little New Year

1. Because stove candy is made of maltose, children should be extra careful when eating it. Excessive consumption will damage children's teeth. If children have a cold or bronchitis, they should eat it in small amounts.
2. If you don’t make it yourself, you must buy sugar in outer packaging to prevent bacteria and dust from entering the intestines and irritating the gastrointestinal mucosa.