Why can't women worship the Kitchen God? What does "Men don't worship the moon and women don't worship the Kitchen God" mean?

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year in the north, and the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year in the south. In many places, there is a custom of worshiping the kitchen god during the Little New Year. But why can’t women offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God? “Men don’t worship the moon, and women don’t worship the kitchen god.” What does this saying mean?

Why can't women offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God?

According to folk legend, the Kitchen God is a handsome man. If a woman were to bow down to his beauty during the Kitchen God worship, she would not be able to control herself. The ancients emphasized the differences between men and women, and they were afraid that women’s worship of the Kitchen God would be disrespectful and violate feudal ethics, so women were not allowed to worship the Kitchen God. In ancient times, women did not have a high status, and worshiping the Kitchen God was a serious matter. For the sake of solemnity, it was usually the man in charge of the family who worshipped the Kitchen God to show respect for him.

What does "Men don't worship the moon and women don't worship the kitchen god" mean?

Men do not worship the moon, and women do not worship the kitchen god. It means that men do not worship the Moon God, and women do not worship the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God to girls is like Chang'e, the most beautiful woman in heaven, to men. It is easy for the opposite sex to fall in love with him accidentally, so special care should be taken to avoid suspicion.

1. Men do not worship the moon

On the 15th day of August, men cannot worship the moon. Everyone knows that August 15th is the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of my country's traditional festivals. Most people will eat moon cakes, watch the moon, and worship the moon on this day. Then why can't men worship the moon? This is because the ancients believed that men are yang and women are yin, and the sun is undoubtedly yang, while the moon corresponds to yin. In ancient times, men were considered the head of the family and the backbone of the family, and should be very masculine. Therefore, only women can worship the moon but men cannot. In addition, the ancients believed that the moon was where the fairy Chang'e lived. If a man worshiped her, it would be a sign of evil intentions, so men could not worship the moon.

2. Women do not offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God

“Women do not worship the Kitchen God” means that women cannot worship the Kitchen God on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. Legend has it that the Kitchen God will return to heaven on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month every year to report to the Jade Emperor on the family's situation that year. In order to make him say more good things to the gods and wish for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year, people would hold a Kitchen God worship ceremony on this day and offer tributes such as malt sugar to the Kitchen God. Why do they say “women don’t worship the kitchen god”? Not only the worship of the Kitchen God, but also the various worships performed by rural people around the New Year, women generally did not participate. In fact, it is also because of folk legends. It is said here that "women cannot worship the Kitchen God". The reason is that according to legend, the Kitchen God is a handsome and elegant man, and the ancients emphasized the differences between men and women and that they should not touch each other. They were afraid that women's worship of the Kitchen God would be disrespectful to him and violate feudal ethics, so women could not worship the Kitchen God.

What is the significance of sending the Kitchen God?

On the 23rd (or 24th) day of the 12th lunar month, the Stove God is sent back to heaven. When sending him off, one must first worship him. The offerings are different from the three animals and four fruits used in other sacrifices. Normally people use sweets such as rice balls and malt sugar to worship him. The purpose is only to say good things to the Stove God in front of the Jade Emperor after he enjoys these desserts, and not to tell on him. After sending off the Kitchen God, every household will do a thorough cleaning to welcome the New Year. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, the Kitchen God must be invited back home to continue his duties as a god. Sending the Kitchen God away embodies the Han working people's beautiful wish to ward off evil and disasters and welcome good fortune.