The Kitchen God
In the days leading up to New Year's day itself, homes are thoroughly swept and cleaned in order to sweep away all bad luck. Once cleaned, the Kitchen God 'Zao wang', is bid farewell. Traditionally, the Kitchen God was believed to be the guardian of the family hearth. He was seen as inventor of fire, which was necessary for cooking, and was also the censor of household morals! On 23rd of the last month, the Kitchen God went up to heaven to report on the behavior of the family, so during this period, the family did everything possible to obtain a favorable report from him. On 23rd, families would hold a ritualistic farewell dinner with plentyo of sweet foods and honey to please this God.

Lap Bak
'Lap Bak' traditionally begins the Chinese New Year celebrations. Originating from Buddhist culture, 'Lap Bak' means literally 'cold eighth' and it is the eighth day of the last, usually cold, lunar month. To celebarate this day, a special hot rice soup is prepared and it consists of nuts, dried lotus seeds, red beans and dried dates. The consumation of rice soup is a symbolic purification of the body in preparation for the New Year.