As the twelfth lunar month begins, the festive atmosphere grows. But do you know the customs leading up to the New Year? After the "Little New Year" on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, people busily prepare for the holiday. What are these pre-New Year traditions? Below is a detailed explanation. Pre-New Year Customs In many regions of China, the New Year celebrations begin with the "Little New Year" on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. What are the customs before the New Year?This is reflected in the "Twelfth Month Song." The song goes: "On the twenty-third, sticky candied melon; on the twenty-fourth, sweep the house; on the twenty-fifth, grind tofu; on the twenty-sixth, buy meat (for stewing); on the twenty-seventh, slaughter the rooster (for the stove god); on the twenty-eighth, proof the dough; on the twenty-ninth, steam buns; on the thirtieth, stay up all night; on New Year's Day, dance."
This reveals that from the day after the Little New Year until the eve of the Lunar New Year, each day holds specific traditions: sweeping the house, preparing incense, writing Spring Festival couplets, and shopping for New Year's goods. Every day is packed with activities until New Year's Eve.
The 23rd: Sticky Sugar Candies
"On the 23rd, sticky sugar candies; the Kitchen God ascends to heaven."The Kitchen God Festival on the 23rd is an ancient folk custom. Also known as "Sending the Kitchen God," it stems from the belief that the Kitchen God ascends to heaven on this day to report a family's deeds to the Jade Emperor. He returns on New Year's Eve to reward the virtuous and punish the wicked, bestowing blessings or calamities as commanded.Therefore, every household cleans thoroughly and offers sugar cakes to the Kitchen God, hoping he will speak favorably.
Modern urban homes no longer have traditional stoves, so we can prepare extra candies and pastries instead, symbolizing a sweet life in the coming year. Dumplings and fire-roasted buns are also traditional foods for the Little New Year.
The 24th: Sweeping the House
After the 23rd, only six or seven days remain until the Spring Festival. Traditionally, the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month is designated as "Sweeping Day," when every household thoroughly cleans their homes, commonly known as sweeping away dust.During dust sweeping, housewives typically cover beds and furniture first, wrap their heads in scarves, and thoroughly sweep walls from top to bottom with brooms. This ritual symbolizes removing the old to welcome the new and banishing misfortune.
On this day, every household must conduct a thorough deep clean: washing utensils, disassembling and laundering bedding and curtains, ensuring everything is spotless to greet the New Year.
The 25th: Grinding Tofu
"On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, grind the mill to make tofu." In times of scarcity, white and tender tofu was a luxury second only to meat, and a staple dish on the New Year's Eve feast.On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, a rural proverb goes, "You can catch the pig slaughter, but not the tofu grinding," meaning tofu grinding must be done early.
Every household would make or buy tofu, as "tofu" (doufu) sounds like "fortune" (doufu). That day also marked "Welcoming the Jade Emperor," an old custom believing the Jade Emperor descended to inspect human deeds. Thus, people behaved cautiously in speech and conduct, praying for blessings in the coming year.
The 26th: Buying Meat
The saying "On the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, slaughter pigs and buy New Year meat" refers to preparing meat for the holiday. Slaughtering pigs meant killing one's own livestock, while "buying meat" meant households without pigs purchasing meat at the market for the festivities.The inclusion of "cutting New Year meat" in festive rhymes stems from agrarian societies where economic development was limited, and meat was often only consumed during the New Year festivities, hence the term "New Year meat."
This day primarily involves preparing meat for the New Year celebrations. Eating "New Year meat" traditionally emphasizes braised pork, as meat itself symbolizes prosperity, and braised pork specifically signifies a vibrant and thriving year ahead.