"Twenty-three, sugar melon sticky; twenty-four, sweep the house"
Today is the twenty-third day of the lunar month
The days of the northern part of the continent
In the south, the day after the mistake is on the twenty-fourth day of the waxing moon, the small year
The Little Year is the prelude to the Spring Festival
After a small year
It's been a "busy year."
Poster Maker: Feng Juan
Why doesn't the North and the South celebrate the New Year on the same day?
Tianjin folklore expert and columnist explained by Guoqing
This comes from the ancient saying that "officials are three, people are four, and ships are five"
The official family celebrates the New Year on the twenty-third day of the Lunar New Year
The people celebrate the New Year on the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month
Floaters, fishermen, etc. celebrate the New Year on the 25th of the lunar month
Before the Song Dynasty
The north is mostly a political center
Deeply influenced by official culture
People celebrate the New Year on the twenty-third day of the lunar month
The South, on the other hand, is far from the political center
On the twenty-fourth day of the waxing moon, a small year is celebrated
Along the shores of Poyang Lake, there are old boat customs
Then on the twenty-fifth day of the waxing moon, the small year is celebrated
The difference between the people of the north and the south is that of a small year
It is closely related to the local history and culture
It also reflects the diversified and rich characteristics of Chinese folk life
Whether it's north or south
The common customs of the small year are to worship the god Vesta and sweep the house
Because of the relationship with the god Vesta in the sky
Xiaonian also has a mysterious charm and legendary color
Folklore experts say so
Vesta, also known as "Si Ming Bodhisattva" or "Stove King Si Ming", folklore that Vesta God was originally a star in the sky, because of his mistakes, he was demoted to the human world by the Jade Emperor, managing the stove fire of each family, and at the same time having the duty of blessing and supervision. He was ordered to monitor the good and evil of the world, and returned to heaven every year on the twenty-third or twenty-fourth day of the waxing moon to report the situation on earth to the Jade Emperor, who rewarded the evil according to the words of the god Vesta. Therefore, when people sacrifice the stove, they often put various offerings in front of the statue of the stove god to "bribe" him and let him "say good things from heaven".
The sugar melon offering stove is a custom in many parts of the north
Sugar melons made from maltose are sweet and sticky
It is intended to make Vesta say more "sweet words"
Or stick sugar to Vesta's mouth
Lest he say bad things about the family
In the old days, people prayed for blessings and obedience
Couplets will also be pasted on both sides of the statue of Vesta —
"Heaven says good things, the netherworld keeps peace" or "Heaven says good things, return to the palace and descend auspiciously"
The small year is therefore also called the "Festival of the Stove".
After the offering
People started sweeping houses for hygiene
The north is called "dust removal"
The south is called "dust dust"
People wash and wash all kinds
It is intended to sweep away all the "poor luck and obscurity"
Greet the Arrival of the Lunar New Year cleanly and refreshed
There are other differences in the customs of the North and the South
For example, cut window flowers and eat dumplings in the north
The south writes spring leagues and eats rice cakes
All are important ceremonies for the Chinese people to welcome the New Year
With the development of the times and the change of lifestyle
People's cooking and eating lives are also changing
Many folk customs are fading away
But you can't give it up
It is a vision of leaving the old and welcoming the new
Hope for a better life
The footsteps of the Spring Festival are getting closer and closer
Whether your family's little year is today or tomorrow
I wish you all the best of luck and good health
The New Year is full of tigers and tigers!