In China, the celebration of the Lunar New Year doesn’t begin on New Year’s Day itself, but starts much earlier in the twelfth lunar month. The first important signal of this grand festival is “Little New Year” (Xiaonian).
It serves as a gentle reminder to everyone that the New Year is truly approaching, and it’s time to pause from busy schedules and return home for reunion.
What is Little New Year?
Little New Year is widely regarded as the “opening day” for the entire Spring Festival celebrations. It falls on the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, with northern regions typically observing it on the 23rd, while some southern areas maintain the tradition of celebrating on the 24th. This slight difference in dates reflects the rich cultural diversity across China’s vast landscape.
The core custom of Little New Year is “offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God” (Ji Zao). According to legend, the Kitchen God resides in every household’s kitchen throughout the year, observing and recording the family’s conduct.
On Little New Year, he returns to heaven to report the family’s behavior to the Jade Emperor. People bid him farewell through offerings, hoping he will “speak good words in heaven” and bring blessings and protection to the household.
Traditional Customs of Little New Year
The preparations for Little New Year are filled with ritual significance, each pointing toward the common theme of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
Offering Sacrifices to the Kitchen God: A Sweet “Bribe”
The offerings for the Kitchen God are usually simple but highly symbolic. The most essential items are sweet foods, such as sticky and sweet “malty candies” (Tanggua) or “Guandong candy.” The idea is that these sticky sweets will seal the Kitchen God’s mouth, preventing him from speaking ill, or make his words sweeter when reporting to the Jade Emperor. This seemingly playful act of “bribery” actually embodies people’s simple aspirations for a better life.
Thorough House Cleaning: A Fresh Start
After Little New Year, every household engages in the most thorough cleaning of the year, known as “sweeping away the dust” (Saochen). Since the word for “dust” (尘) sounds like “old” (陈), this tradition symbolizes “removing the old to make way for the new.”
It represents sweeping away the misfortunes and disappointments of the past year, welcoming the New Year’s luck into a clean and renewed home.
Putting Up Paper-Cuttings and Personal Grooming: A Renewed Appearance
After the cleaning, people decorate their homes with red paper-cuttings and Spring Festival couplets to add festive colors. Meanwhile, both adults and children take baths and get haircuts, as a saying goes: “Whether rich or poor, get a haircut for the New Year.”
This emphasis on a “new” appearance represents bidding farewell to the past and starting the new year with a fresh outlook.
Preparing New Year Goods: Getting into the Festival Spirit
From Little New Year onward, the atmosphere of the New Year grows increasingly stronger. People begin shopping for New Year’s goods, writing couplets, and preparing special foods for the festival. Markets become livelier with stalls selling festive items, filled with an air of joy and anticipation.
Little New Year Today
In modern society, many traditional rituals for the Kitchen God have been simplified, but the core significance of Little New Year—family reunion and renewal—remains unchanged. It still serves as a strong signal, urging those working or studying away from home to begin their journey back.
It reminds us that regardless of the past year’s challenges or successes, home is always a warm harbor, and the new year always brings fresh hope.
In summary, Little New Year is like a warm overture. With its sweet candies, clean homes, and joyful family reunions, it plays the moving prelude to the grand symphony that is the Spring Festival.
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