"Little Year". Xiao Nian does not refer to a specific festival, but rather a collective term for a series of important milestones leading up to the Lunar New Year. In China, the dates of the small year are not uniform depending on the region. In the northern region, the twenty-third day of the lunar month is generally regarded as a small year, while in the southern region, the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month is mostly designated as a small year.
1. Date differences.
The northern year is on the twenty-third day of the lunar month, while the southern year is on the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month. This difference stems from the threat posed to the Han Chinese by ethnic minorities in northern China, such as the Xiongnu and Xianbei, and in order to deal with this threat, the Han Chinese army had to maintain a high level of combat readiness. On the twenty-third day of the lunar month, the Han army had completed its reorganization and supply, and the Xiongnu and Xianbei tribes also happened to go south to plunder at this time, so this day was designated as "Xiao Nian" by the Han people to remind people to be vigilant. The southern region did not have such military needs, so they chose to celebrate the New Year on the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month.
2. Differences in customs.
1.Sacrificial Stove Customs: Whether in the north or south, the core custom of Xiao Nian is the sacrificial stove. The Lord of the Stove is a deity that every household worships and is regarded as the guardian deity of the home. During the festival, people place various offerings such as sugar melons and cakes on the stove to pray for a good harvest and good health for the family in the coming year. On this day, people will also prepare some wine and food for the Lord of the Stove to "say good things from heaven", hoping that in this way, the Lord of the Stove will have more good words in the sky.
2.Dusting customs: After the sacrificial stove, each household will carry out a general cleaning to sweep away the bad luck of the year. In the north, people use brooms to thoroughly sweep walls, roofs, windows, etc.; In the south, because houses are mostly made of wooden structures, people pay more attention to the maintenance and cleaning of wooden structures.
3.Eating dumplings and glutinous rice balls: In the north, there is a custom of eating dumplings in the early years. Dumplings are an important food for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner in the north, symbolizing reunion and wealth. In the south, Xiao Nian has a tradition of eating rice balls. Tangyuan symbolizes family reunion and happiness. Whether it is dumplings or glutinous rice balls, they are people's expectations and blessings for a better life.
4.Cutting window flowers: In the north, there is also a custom of cutting window flowers in young years. On this day, people will cut out window flowers with various patterns, such as blessing characters, happy characters, flowers, etc., and paste them on the windows to add to the festive atmosphere. In the south, people pay more attention to the decoration and beautification of houses, such as pasting Spring Festival couplets and hanging lanterns.
5.Steamed steamed buns and sugar melons: In the north, there is also the custom of steaming steamed buns in small years. People will steam many steamed buns on this day, which means a good harvest and family prosperity. At the same time, in order to sacrifice the stove, people will also make some sugar melons to worship the king of the stove. In the south, people do not have the custom of steaming steamed buns and sugar melons.
3. Cultural significance.
1.Family Reunion: Whether in the North or in the South, the New Year is an important time for family reunion. On this day, families come together to celebrate this special holiday. In this way, people not only pass on traditional culture, but also strengthen the emotional bond between family members.
2.Pray for blessings and ward off evil spirits: The various customs of the young year are related to praying for blessings and driving away evil spirits. Through rituals such as sacrificing stoves, sweeping dust, and eating dumplings or rice balls, people pray for a safe and prosperous year and a happy family. At the same time, these customs also imply the exorcism of all ** and bad luck, and bring good luck and auspiciousness to the family.
3.Inheritance and innovation: With the development of the times, the way of celebrating the New Year is also constantly changing and innovating. People not only retain traditional customs and culture, but also constantly combine them with modern elements to make them more in line with modern people's aesthetics and lifestyles. This spirit of inheritance and innovation is not only reflected in the way the New Year is celebrated, but also reflects people's respect and love for traditional culture.
In general, although the dates and customs of the small year are different between the north and the south, they both carry people's expectations for a better life and deep affection for their families. Whether it is the snacks dumplings, sugar melons, window flower paper-cutting in the north, or the traditional customs such as eating glutinous rice balls and charcoal ash removal in the south, they are all important parts of Chinese culture. These customs not only enrich the cultural connotation of people's lives, but also convey the traditional cultural values and spiritual beliefs of the Chinese nation. On this special day, let's feel the warmth of home and the charm of traditional culture!
Celebrate the New Year in peace and auspiciousness