The twenty-third day of the lunar month is a traditional Chinese festival. This day is also known as the "Little Year", the Little Year has a wealth of customs, and after the New Year, it means that the New Year officially kicks off.
However, China's territory is vast, and the time to spend the New Year is different all over the country, such as the 23rd lunar month in the northern region, but the 24th lunar month in the southern region, no matter which day the lunar New Year is celebrated, it contains people's yearning for a happy life and the inheritance of traditional Chinese culture.
According to traditional customs, there are many things to do on this day, and on this day you should remember 1 sacrifice, 2 eats, 3 sweeps, and pray for your family.
The first is the sacrificial stoveThe traditional customs of sacrificing stoves, eating stove sugar, "sending the god of the stove" are the same, the sacrificial stove originated from people's worship and awe of fire, the earliest time of the sacrificial stove in China can be traced back to the time of the Qin and Han dynasties, through the sacrifice of the god of the stove, so that the king of the stove blesses the family with peace and security. According to legend, on this day, the Lord of the Stove will return to Heaven and report the family to the Jade Emperor, so people will offer incense, fruits, stove sugar and other items in the kitchen, and pray for the Lord of the Stove to say more good words and good words to bless the family and a good harvest through the ritual of sacrificing to the God of the Stove.
The second is to eat stove candy and dumplingsEating stove candy and dumplings is also one of the important customs on the 23rd day of the lunar month. The difference between the north and the south culture, the stove sugar in various places is also different, Henan and Shandong are eating hemp sugar. When the stove sugar is removed from the sacrifice table, eating the stove means that the wind and rain are smooth, and the family is healthy and healthy.
In the northern region, people will eat dumplings on this day, on the one hand, it is to send the stove prince to heaven, on the other hand, because the shape of the dumplings is like ingots, which means that the wealth is extensive. In the southern region, they will eat rice balls and rice cakes, which symbolize high promotion and reunion every year. In addition, there are some places where traditional foods such as hemp candy and glutinous rice are eaten, which symbolize family reunion and happiness.
Finally, there is the custom of "sweeping the dust".On this day, people will mobilize the whole family to carry out a general cleaning, sweep away the dust and garbage in the home, clean the courtyard, clean the cobwebs, disassemble and wash the bedding, wash the furniture, change the sheets and bedding and other items, in order to send away the old bad things. If there is firewood burning in the hometown, this day to stack the firewood neatly, this "dusting" custom means to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, clean and clean Spring Festival, but also to place people's good expectations and blessings for the New Year. In addition to cleaning, this day also has to get a haircut, take a bath, remove the old dust on the body, and put on new clothes, which means a new year.
In addition,On the twenty-third day of the lunar month, there are also some places where temple fairs, flower markets, writing blessing characters and other folk activities. Some communities also have free Spring Festival couplets, which not only show the charm of traditional Chinese culture, but also provide an opportunity for people to relax and communicate. At the temple fair, people can enjoy a variety of folk performances, taste the special food of various places, and can also buy a variety of window flowers and handicrafts, go home and paste them on their own windows, and the taste of the New Year will come, and the picture is festive and auspicious.
In short, the customs and habits of the 23rd day of the lunar month are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. By participating in and understanding these activities, we can feel the profound heritage and rich connotation of traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, we can also better understand and experience the unique charm and cultural value of traditional Chinese festivals through these customs. Let us inherit and carry forward these excellent traditional cultures together and create a better future together. Thank you for reading and Happy New Year! Celebrate the New Year in peace and auspiciousness