The 23rd or 24th of the twelfth lunar month is called "off-year" among the people, and people have been busy since childhood. Off-year doesn't mean a certain day. Due to local customs, the days called off-year are different. During the off-year period, the main folk activities include sweeping dust and offering sacrifices to stoves. Before the Qing Dynasty, the traditional festival of offering sacrifices to stoves in the off-year was the 24th of the twelfth lunar month.

Since the middle and late Qing Dynasty, the emperor's family held a ceremony to worship heaven on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. In order to "save money", they also worship the kitchen god, so the folks in the northern region have followed suit, mostly on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. In most parts of the south, the old tradition of celebrating the Lunar New Year on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month is still maintained.

Step 2 clean the dust

The main theme before the busy year is to take off the old cloth, and sweeping dust is one of the new customs of taking off the old cloth on New Year's Day. The folk proverb says, "On the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, dust and sweep the house". 23/24 ended, and officially began to prepare for the New Year.

Sweeping dust means year-end cleaning, which is called "house sweeping" in the north and "house sweeping" in the south. Whenever the Spring Festival comes, every household should clean the environment, clean all kinds of electrical appliances, remove and wash bedding curtains, sweep six yards, dust cobwebs and dredge culverts in open channels. Everywhere is filled with the joyful atmosphere of cleaning and welcoming the Spring Festival cleanly.

3. Sacrifice to the Kitchen God

On the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the kitchen stove should be cleaned after dark, and the old kitchen stove should be removed and burned. In addition to posting new pictures in the morning and evening, there are also wine, meat, candy, sugar cane and rice fruit. To put incense, light candles and light paper cannons.

4. Pick up the Jade Emperor

According to folklore, after the kitchen god went to heaven, the Jade Emperor personally descended to earth on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month to investigate the good and evil on earth and decide the fortune for the coming year. Therefore, every household gives its blessing, which is called "receiving the Jade Emperor". On this day, we should be careful in our daily life and words, strive for good performance, win the favor of the Jade Emperor and bring good luck for the coming year.

5. Catch up with the chaos

It was not until New Year's Eve that Kitchen God was sent to welcome him back. During this period, there is no God's jurisdiction on the earth, and at all times, many people get married, which is called "expelling chaos". Luannian is a special period designed by people to adjust their social life. At the end of the year, people have leisure and savings. For those who have little energy to do great things, this is a good opportunity for recreation.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Spring Festival Customs

Baidu Encyclopedia-Spring Festival