The Idioms of Chinese Little New Year (Xiaonian)

2022-01-21

1.Whether rich or poor, people have a haircut before the Spring Festival

As the old Chinese saying goes, whether they're rich or poor, people often have a haircut before the Spring Festival. The activity of taking bath and haircut is often taken on Little New Year to meet the New Year's arrival with the brand-new appearance.

2.Make sticky rice cakes on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month

In the western part of Shandong Province, there is a folk rhyme "Make sticky rice cakes on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month". Every year in Little New Year, every family will steam sticky rice cakes, which are intended to stick to the mouth of the Kitchen God. Therefore, he will say more good things rather than bad things on earth.

3.The Kitchen God go to the heaven on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month

Little New Year, also known as Kitchen God Festival, falls on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month in north China. The duty of the Kitchen God is to control the stove and manage the food, and later it was expanded to examine the behaviors on earth to bring blessings and disasters. The belief of the Kitchen God reflects people's pursuit of abundant food and clothing.

4.At the end of the year, people are busy with getting married in countryside

According to folklore, at the end of the 12th lunar month, the gods will go to heaven to report on the work of the year. Therefore, there is no taboo on earth at this time. Besides, the farming is not busy, so it is a good time to get married without choosing an auspicious date. So in the old days, people were busy marrying in the countryside.

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