The History and Celebration of 小年 (Minor New Year)

Most of you probably know that the upcoming Spring Festival falls on the 9th of February 2024, the year of the Wood Dragon. However, perhaps few of you are familiar with the history and celebration of 小年 (Xiǎo nián), translated as the Minor New Year. This year's 小年 began on 2nd February 2024, and the celebrations have already started in China.

So, what is the history of 小年 (Xiǎo nián), and how do people celebrate it? This is what I will share with you in this article.

The history of 小年 (Xiǎo nián) (Minor New Year)

In traditional Chinese folklore, 小年 (Xiǎo nián) (Minor New Year) is an important festival that signifies the official start of the Spring Festival. On this day, people engage in special customs and activities that symbolize the arrival of the New Year and convey blessings.

The origin of 小年 (Xiǎo nián) can be traced back to ancient times when people believed that on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Kitchen God would leave the Heavenly Palace and return to the human world. The duty of the Kitchen God is to oversee the hearth and manage food and drink, which later expanded to include observing the good and evil deeds of humans, to bestow blessings or misfortunes accordingly. To welcome his return, people would perform sacrificial activities as a sign of respect. Over time, these customs gradually evolved into a traditional festival.

The Kitchen God worshipped by the folk is depicted as an old couple sitting together, or as one man and two women sitting together, representing the Kitchen God and his wife in portraits. These are generally pasted on the wall above the stove, accompanied by couplets like "Speak good things in heaven, return to the palace to bring auspiciousness," with the horizontal inscription "Master of the Household."

How do people celebrate?

In the northern regions, Xiao Nian (Minor New Year) is usually celebrated on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, while in the southern regions, it is typically celebrated on the 24th. Although the dates vary, the customs of Xiao Nian are largely the same. On this day, traditional activities such as cleaning dust, offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, and pasting window flowers are carried out.

扫尘, Cleaning dust

Cleaning dust is an important activity in Chinese traditional culture, aimed at removing all dirt and ominous qi (energy) to welcome the New Year. Families undertake a thorough cleaning of every corner of the home, symbolizing the bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new.

祭灶, Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God

Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God is a significant part of 小年 (Xiǎo nián), where people place offerings like candies and pastries in front of the Kitchen God's portrait as a sign of respect and to pray for good luck in the coming year. Additionally, firecrackers are set off to drive away bad luck and welcome the New Year.

贴窗花, Pasting window flowers

Pasting window flowers is a traditional activity of Xiao Nian, where people stick red paper cutouts on windows symbolizing good fortune and happiness. These paper cutouts, often in the shapes of the character for "luck," flowers, birds, and other designs, are exquisite and artistic.

Besides these traditional customs, Xiao Nian is also associated with special foods like dumplings, rice cakes, and candied fruits. These delicacies are not only tasty but also carry auspicious meanings: dumplings symbolize wealth, rice cakes represent climbing to new heights each year, and candied fruits denote sweetness and happiness.

Conclusion

In summary, 小年 (Xiǎo nián) is a festival rich in traditional cultural connotations. It not only marks the official start of the Spring Festival but also embodies people's beautiful wishes and hopes for the New Year. By participating in these traditional customs and activities, people can experience the unique charm and spiritual essence of Chinese traditional culture. Let us celebrate 小年 (Xiǎo nián) together and welcome the arrival of the New Year!