Little New Year

Little New Year, also known as the "Kitchen God Festival," is a traditional Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the Spring Festival celebrations. The date varies between northern and southern China: typically on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month in the north, and the 24th in the south.

Key traditions include:

• Worshipping the Kitchen God – Offering sweet treats like melon-shaped malt candies, hoping he will "report good deeds to heaven and bring blessings to the household"
• Thorough house cleaning – Symbolizing sweeping away the old to welcome the new
• Putting up paper-cuttings and couplets – Adding festive decorations
• Bathing and haircuts – Refreshing oneself for the new year
• Eating special foods– Northerners enjoy malt candies and dumplings, while southerners eat rice cakes and sweet rice balls

The essence of Little New Year lies in family reunion and transitioning from the old to the new. Through these rituals, people express their aspirations for a prosperous life while making final preparations for the upcoming Spring Festival.

Source：Chinajob