Onthe23rddayofthelastlunarmonththeKitchengodreturnstoheaventogiveareporttotheJadeEmperor(inChinesemythologytheJadeEmperoristherulerofheaven)aboutthefamilysactivitiesoverthepastyear.ThisdayismarkedbyactsofappeasementtotheKitchengodsothathewillgivetheJadeEmperorafavourablereport.

TraditionallyimagesoftheKitchengodareburnedasasymbolicactofdeparture.Oftensomegoldorsilvermoneywillalsobeburnedfortravellingexpenses.InsomehouseholdsthelipsoftheKitchengodarebrushedwithhoneyorasugarsolutionjustbeforetheimageisburned-thiswillincreasethelikelihoodthatonlysweetthingswillbesaidbytheKitchengod.Fromthe23rdtheKitchengodwillbeabsentfromhisshrineinthekitchen,andduringthistimeitwillbecleanedinpreparationforhisreturnonNewYearsEve.