Folks carry a portrait of the Kitchen God past a flock of onlookers as a part of the performances for the first Chinese Kitchen God's Festival in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Feb. 1.

The Kitchen God is an important god in Chinese culture who dominates the household.

The Kitchen God's Day falls on the 23rd of the last month in Chinese Lunar Calendar.

On that day, people believe the Kitchen God returns to heaven to report the family's merits and faults over the past year to the Jade Emperor, ruler of heaven and earth in Chinese methology.

This day is marked by acts of appeasement to the Kitchen God so that he may give the Jade Emperor a favorable report.