The year of 2023, that is, the year of 2023 in the lunar calendar, is Saturday 1 month 14 in 2023, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the day after beginning of spring. Off-year, not just a day, is called "off-year" because of local customs. During the off-year period, the main folk activities include sweeping dust and offering sacrifices to stoves. Traditionally, the day of offering sacrifices to stoves is the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. In most parts of the south, the ancient tradition of celebrating the 24th of the twelfth lunar month is still maintained.
The origin of off-year is related to the activities of offering sacrifices to the kitchen god: it is said that the kitchen god was originally a civilian Zhang Sheng, and after he got married, he spent all his time partying. In the end, I lost all my family business and fell to the streets to beg. One day, he begged at his ex-wife Guo Dingxiang's house, ashamed, and burned to death under the stove and pot. When the Jade Emperor knew about it, he thought that Zhang Sheng could change his mind, so he was named the kitchen king, reported to heaven on the 23rd and 24th of the twelfth lunar month every year, and returned to the bottom of the kitchen on the New Year's Eve. The common people think that the Kitchen King must be respected, because he wants to report to heaven, so he puts up incense tables and tributes to worship. Over time, the custom of offering sacrifices to stoves in off-year has been formed and passed down to this day.
Most parts of South China: the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month-"Folk Traditional Year"
During the Song Dynasty, there was a custom of "the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month passed the off-year holiday", and "it was said in ancient times that the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the kitchen ruler spoke his mind to the sky". Nowadays, in most parts of the south, the ancient tradition of celebrating the New Year on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month is still maintained.
Most parts of northern China: the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month-"Northern Small Year"
Since the reign of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty, sacrificial ceremonies have been held on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. In order to "save money", the emperor worships the kitchen god at the same time on this day. Since then, the royal family and Baylor followed suit, offering sacrifices to stoves on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. Since then, there has been a division between officials and people who spend their off-year lives on different days. Influenced by the government, the off-year in most parts of the north is now the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.
Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai: The night before New Year's Eve-"New Year's Eve"
Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai are used to calling New Year's Eve "New Year's Eve", and correspondingly, the night before New Year's Eve is called "New Year's Eve". Nanjing, which belongs to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, falls on the same day as the Lantern Festival.
Off-year custom
You must eat jiaozi on this day of off-year. Don't look at jiaozi, which is just a delicacy. In fact, it has a history of thousands of years and is a representative of traditional culture. Eating jiaozi means more happiness and longevity. You can even wrap some coins or other small items in jiaozi's belly to see who is better off. Sesame candy is sesame candy, which many people have eaten. It has a sweet and crisp taste, plus the aroma of sesame seeds. Eating a bite really leaves a fragrance on your teeth and cheeks, with endless aftertaste. It is said that the purpose of eating sesame candy in the next year is to add a little sweetness to the mouth of the kitchen king, so that life will be better in the future. It is also a traditional food for offering sacrifices to the kitchen king. Nowadays, people not only eat sesame candy in their early years, but also eat sesame candy in normal times.