When is 2017 a small year?
Xiaonian is one of the traditional Chinese festivals, usually regarded as the prelude to the Spring Festival and marking the approach of the Lunar New Year. Different regions have slightly different definitions of Xiao Nian. In northern areas, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is usually regarded as the small year, while in the south, the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month is usually regarded as the small year. The specific dates of the Little New Year in 2017 are as follows:
| area | small year date | Lunar date |
|---|---|---|
| northern region | January 20, 2017 | The twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month |
| southern region | January 21, 2017 | The twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month |
The customs and significance of Xiaonian
Xiaonian is an important time node in traditional Chinese culture. On this day, people will carry out a series of preparatory activities to pave the way for the upcoming Spring Festival. The following are the New Year customs in some areas:
| custom | area | Specific content |
|---|---|---|
| Sacrifice the stove | Common nationwide | Worship the Kitchen God and pray for peace in the coming year |
| sweep dust | Common nationwide | Give your house a thorough clean and say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new |
| Cut window grilles | northern region | Decorate windows to add a festive atmosphere |
The historical origins of Xiaonian
The origin of Xiaonian can be traced back to the pre-Qin period, when there was a custom of worshiping the Kitchen God. After the Han Dynasty, the belief in the Kitchen God gradually became popular, and Xiaonian was fixed as an important day for worshiping the Kitchen God. There are also many versions of the legend about the Kitchen God. A widely circulated saying is that the Kitchen God will report the good and evil in the world to the Jade Emperor every year on the New Year's Day. Therefore, people will offer sugar melons in front of the statue of the Kitchen God in the hope that the Kitchen God can "speak good things to heaven and ensure peace in the lower world."
What’s special about the New Year in 2017
The Little New Year of 2017 falls in late January, only about a week before the Spring Festival (January 28, 2017). Some hot topics during this Little New Year period include:
| hot topics | heat index | Main discussion content |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Festival travel begins | high | Little New Year marks the arrival of the peak period of Spring Festival travel |
| New Year’s shopping | high | New Year’s market sales in various places usher in peak sales |
| Protection of traditional customs | in | Discussion on how to inherit the customs of Xiaonian |
The relationship between Xiaonian and Spring Festival
Xiaonian is closely related to the Spring Festival and can be said to be the beginning of the Spring Festival celebrations. Starting from the New Year, the festive atmosphere gradually becomes stronger, and people begin to buy New Year's goods, clean their houses, prepare New Year's Eve dinner, etc. The specific schedule from New Year's Eve to Spring Festival in 2017 is as follows:
| festival | Date | Interval days |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Xiaonian | January 20 | 8 days |
| Southern Xiaonian | January 21 | 7 days |
| New Year's Eve | January 27 | - |
| Spring Festival | January 28 | - |
Modern people’s attitude towards Xiaonian
With the development of society, people's understanding and celebration of traditional festivals are also changing. A 2017 survey showed:
| age group | Proportion of celebrating the New Year | Main way to celebrate |
|---|---|---|
| 20-30 years old | 62% | Simply worship the stove and send it to Moments |
| 31-45 years old | 78% | Traditional ceremony, family reunion |
| Over 46 years old | 92% | Complete traditional ceremony |
As an important part of Chinese traditional culture, Xiaonian not only carries rich folk connotations, but also reflects Chinese people's traditional concepts of family and nature. Although the small year of 2017 has passed, its cultural value is worthy of our continued inheritance and reflection. By understanding the history, customs and modern significance of Xiaonian, we can better understand the profound heritage of Chinese traditional culture.
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