On My Way To School Today, #2

Today I walked to school before the sun was fully up.  On the way this is what I saw around the corner from our house.

This candle was slowly burning from the top.  It is in "honour" of the Hokkien new year which falls in the middle of Chinese new year.  

For more information, this is from Wikipedia and describes what is going on:

Eighth day (which was last night)

"Approaching 12 midnight on this day, Hokkien people" (Note: People who speak the Hokkien language - a dialect of Chinese commonly spoken in Malaysia and other places too) "prepare for the "Jade Emperor ritual" during which incense is burnt and food offerings are made to the Jade Emperor and also to Zao Jun, the kitchen god who reports on each family to the Jade Emperor.

Some people will hold a ritual prayer after midnight on the eighth day. Hokkiens will offer thanks to the Emperor of Heaven. A prominent requisite offering is sugarcane. Legend holds that the Hokkien were spared from a massacre by Japanese pirates by hiding in a sugarcane plantation during the eighth and ninth days of the Chinese New Year, coinciding with the Jade Emperor's birthday.  "Sugarcane" is a near homonym to "thank you" in the Hokkien dialect, Hokkiens offer sugarcane on the eve of his birthday, symbolic of their gratitude." (Note: the lady who I buy fruits from at the wet market said she was up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning praying to her god.  Their fruit stall was closed the next morning.)  "In Malaysia, especially, people light fireworks, often more than on the first day."

Ninth day (today)

"The ninth day of the New Year is a day for Chinese to offer prayers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven. The ninth day is traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor. This day is especially important to Hokkiens, even more important than the first day of the Chinese New Year."  (Note: It is like a Hokkien Thanksgiving Day, I was told.)