Chinese worship Kitchen God around the 23th of December of lunar year. It is said that Kitchen God visits Heaven God on the 24th of december and returns back to Earth on the 6th of lunar January. During his staying in the heaven palace, he reports about what the families did in the last year to Heaven God, who decides what punishments or rewards the families should get. So people worship Kitchen God with many sweet food to hope that he speaks only good words about them. Some people even worship Kitchen God with vinass to hope that Kitchen God becomes drunk and can't remember the bad things they did in the old year. Except sweet food, people burn food and horses made of paper and the old pictures of Kitchen God. All these actions symbolize that they send off Kitchen God kindly to his jouney. On the 6th of lunar January, people put on the new pictures of Kitchen God to welcome him back.
The figures of Kitchen God are not always same among different regions in China. However, they are generally the figures of famous persons, such as famous heroes or persons with outstanding virtues. The most common Kitchen God figure is Guan Yu, a famous general lived about 2000 years ago. He was admired by Chinese for his outstanding battle skills and loyality. People believe that he is responsible and competent enough to be Kitchen God.