你在哪天過“小年”？知道這些習(xí)俗嗎？

這一天人們通常通過祭灶和掃年來宣告整個春節(jié)慶祝活動的開始。也有日歷將臘月廿三和廿四都標注為小年，原因在于南北方的小年會相差一天，北方多數(shù)人廿三過小年，而南方人的小年則要晚一天。你們那里哪天過小年?

下面是“小年”的六種民間習(xí)俗，“小年”也預(yù)示著春季的開始。

1. Offer sacrifices to Kitchen God

祭灶王

In one of the most distinctive traditions of the Little New Year is the burning of a paper image of the Kitchen God, dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by to the home through the pasting of a new paper image of him beside the stove. From this vantage point, the Kitchen God will oversee and protect the household for another year.

“小年”最具特色的風(fēng)俗就是“祭灶王”，具體來講就是將舊的灶王像燒掉，送“灶王”上天稟報這家人過去一年的善惡。大年三十的晚上，要在灶臺旁貼一張新的灶王像，也就是“接灶”。這樣，來年“灶王爺”就能繼續(xù)監(jiān)督并庇佑這一家人。

Most of the offerings are sweets of various varieties. It is thought that this will seal the Kitchen God's mouth and encourage him to only say good things about the family when he ascends to heaven to make his report.

人們還會在祭灶時給灶王爺擺上多種甜點做貢品，認為這會堵住灶王爺?shù)淖欤屗咸靺R報時只說好話。

2. House cleaning

掃塵土

Between Laba Festival, on the eighth day of the last lunar month, and Little New Year, on the twenty-third day, families throughout China undertake a thorough house cleaning, sweeping out the old in preparation for the New Year. 從臘八到小年這段時間，中國大部分家庭都會徹底清掃房屋，“辭舊迎新”。

According to Chinese folk beliefs, during the last month of the year ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth. It is believed that in order to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure people must thoroughly clean both their persons and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.

根據(jù)中國民間習(xí)俗，鬼魂和神靈都要在臘月選擇返回天上還是留在人間。為了保證“他們”及時離開，人們必須徹底進行清掃，包括個人衛(wèi)生和住所，抽屜和碗柜的犄角旮旯也都要打掃干凈。

3. Eat Guandong candy

吃關(guān)東糖

Guandong candy, a sticky treat made out of glutinous millet and sprouted wheat, is a traditional snack that Chinese people eat on the Festival of the Kitchen God.

關(guān)東糖是用麥芽、小米熬制而成，是人們在小年吃的傳統(tǒng)小吃。

4. Paste paper-cuts to windows

貼窗花

In the Little New Year, old couplets and paper-cuts from the previous Spring Festival are taken down, and new window decorations, New Year's posters, and auspicious decorations are pasted up.

過小年時，要把去年春節(jié)貼的春聯(lián)和窗花取下，貼上新的窗花，年畫，和各種大吉大利的裝飾品。

5. Bath and hair-cut

沐浴理發(fā)

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 the Little New Year.

民間有“有錢沒錢，剃頭過年”的說法。“小年”時人們常要沐浴理發(fā)。

6. Preparations for Spring Festival

辦年貨

File photo shows people do special purchases for the Spring Festival. [Photo by Liu Mingxiang/Asianewsphoto]

People start to stock up necessary provisions for the Spring Festival since the Little New Year. Everything needed to make offerings to the ancestors, entertain guests, and feed the family over the long holiday must be purchased in advance.

從小年開始，人們就要為過年置辦了，包括給祖先的貢品、招待客人的用品，還有過年期間一家人的吃食都要提前買好。