Today marks the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, also known as the traditional Chinese “Little New Year”. As the Lunar New Year approaches, the General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of this period, stating that the Spring Festival is a time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, bringing new expectations to people.
The Spring Festival is not just a single festival, but a series of cultural traditions that include removing the old and bringing in the new, worshipping gods and ancestors, and more. From the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, different traditional Spring Festival customs are celebrated almost every day.
These New Year customs carry deep historical and cultural meanings, reflecting people’s emotions and their connection to China’s rich traditional culture. Many of these customs originated from the practical needs of ancient society and have since become symbols of the nation’s cultural heritage, contributing to the lasting impact of Chinese civilization.
The Little New Year, also known as “Xiaonian”, signifies the beginning of the busy New Year preparations, with people starting to prepare New Year’s goods, sweeping away dust, and offering sacrifices to stoves for a clean and prosperous New Year.
The earliest written records of celebrating the Little New Year date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, with the custom evolving from paying tribute to a revered god to worship of the stove. It is interesting to note that the festival date of the Little New Year differs between the north and the south, with the north celebrating on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, and the south on the 24th.
One of the most important activities on Xiaonian is the sacrifice to the stove, also known as the “Festival to the Kitchen God”. This tradition reflects the people’s desire for abundance and prosperity, as they offer sacrifices to ensure a good report from the Kitchen God to the Jade Emperor.
In addition to sacrifices to the stove, other customs during Xiaonian include eating dumplings in the north and rice cakes in the south, as well as cutting window grilles and bathing.
Xiaonian serves as the prelude to the Spring Festival, carrying deep cultural significance and expressing people’s wishes for prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. The differences in customs between the north and the south showcase the diversity and inclusiveness of Chinese culture.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, the richness and depth of these traditions highlight the importance of embracing and preserving the cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations.