When is the Little New Year? What to eat during the Little New Year?

When is the Little New Year? What to eat during the Little New Year?
Our country has a vast territory and abundant resources. The customs of celebrating the New Year in different places are also unique. Generally speaking, the Little New Year is considered to be the beginning of the New Year. So when is the Little New Year celebrated? What to eat during the Little New Year? Let’s find out together!

When is the Little New Year?

In ancient times, there was a tradition of celebrating the Little New Year on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month for officials, the 24th of the twelfth lunar month for common people, and the 25th of the twelfth lunar month for people living on water. Nowadays, most parts of the country call the "Kitchen God Festival" the Little New Year, which is usually held on the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. The main folk activities are sweeping the house and worshiping the kitchen god.
People living on the water along the lakes and coasts, such as Poyang Lake, have retained the boatman tradition, and the Little New Year is celebrated on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month. In some parts of Shandong, the Little New Year falls on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month. In the Huaihe River Basin and some areas of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, the fifth day of the first lunar month is called "Little New Year". The fifth day of the New Year is also called "Po Wu" because many taboos in the few days before the New Year can be broken after this day, hence the name. In places like Wuxi and Shanghai, the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month is called "Little New Year's Eve", which corresponds to the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month "Big New Year's Eve".
Although the dates of the Little New Year vary, people share the same desire to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.
Therefore, the Little New Year in the northern region falls on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, while in the southern region it falls on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

What to eat during the Little New Year?

Stove candy: Stove candy is a traditional snack of the Han nationality, which is divided into Guandong candy and sugar melon. “Twenty-three, sticky sugar melon” means eating sugar melon on the Little New Year. Sugar-coated melon is one of the must-have foods for Chinese New Year’s Eve. It is a must-have when offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, whether in the south or the north.
Dumplings: In the north, it is customary to eat dumplings on the night of the Little New Year to bid farewell to the Kitchen God. In addition, dumplings are also an indispensable delicacy during the Spring Festival.
Glutinous Rice Balls: Glutinous Rice Balls have a long history in the food industry, and many places still retain the custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the New Year. On the Little New Year, the whole family gathers together to eat glutinous rice balls, symbolizing family reunion and implying a sweet new year.
Rice cakes: In Guiping and other places in Guangxi, there is a custom of making rice cakes during the Little New Year. Rice cakes are made of glutinous rice flour as the main ingredient, with peanuts, sesame seeds and sugar as side ingredients. They are put into a mold and beaten into a round shape, then steamed at high temperature. They taste unique. The round rice cakes symbolize "reunion".
Rice cake: Rice cake is also called "nianniangao", which is homophonic with "nianniangao", which means "higher every year", implying that people's work and life will improve year by year. During the Little New Year, people in the north usually make dumplings, while people in the south are more accustomed to making rice cakes.
Fire-baked bread: On the day of the Little New Year, people in some places in the north also eat fire-baked bread. The main ingredients are flour, fresh meat, green onions, peppercorns, etc., and the added ingredients vary from place to place due to different local customs.
Noodles: People in the Shandong Peninsula make steamed buns, reunion cakes, longevity peaches, etc. on the Little New Year, which symbolizes a grand reunion and abundance every year. After making noodles in various shapes and letting them rest, put them into the steamer. The steamed noodles are beautiful in shape and chewy.

<<:  What day of the week is Little New Year in 2021? Is there a holiday during the Little New Year? How many days off?

>>:  What date is the 2021 Chinese New Year's Eve? How many days until Chinese New Year?

Recommend

Where is the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month in 2018?

Want to know more about the twelfth lunar month o...

Lunar calendar October 22, 2018, is it a good day?

The tenth month of the lunar calendar is approach...

Is August 21st of the lunar calendar 2019 a good day? Can I travel?

Nowadays, many people still keep the habit of chec...