What are the customs after the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month?

In our place, there are many activities besides hanging lanterns. Basically, there are activities every day after the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.

There is an old saying in China that "the twelfth lunar month is the year". Especially after the 23 rd day of the twelfth lunar month, it is getting closer and closer to the New Year. Every day after the twelfth lunar month has unique customs and activities.

1February 23rd:

Commonly known as "off-year", it is said that this day is the day when the kitchen god goes to heaven. People think that a few good words from the Kitchen God in front of the Jade Emperor will bring happiness to the family and bless the family's peace in the coming year. Therefore, on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, every household has to offer sacrifices to the kitchen god and ask him to speak well and say auspicious words the day after tomorrow.

On the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, according to the old customs, cleaning the house is the established cleaning day. Now we generally clean according to the custom. Ordinary elderly people who have leisure at home will also do general cleaning, sweep the house, clean the glass and scrub everything that can be scrubbed at home on this day. Dust removal is year-end cleaning, which is called "house cleaning" in the north and "dust removal" in the south. After cleaning up, officially began to welcome the New Year.

1February 27th:

Slaughter New Year's chickens, catch up with the big party, and all the items needed for the Spring Festival are under purchase. On this day, in addition to slaughtering their own poultry, every household has to go to the shops in the market for centralized procurement. Of course, there are also some places to take a bath and wash clothes in order to get rid of the bad luck for one year and prepare for the Spring Festival next year. There is a saying in Beijing that "twenty-seven washes sick, twenty-eight washes sloppy". Taking a bath on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month is "washing Fulu".

1February 28th:

Make cakes and steamed buns with decals. The so-called decals are New Year pictures, Spring Festival couplets and window grilles. Among them, the custom of pasting Spring Festival couplets originated from the ancient "Fu Tao". The ancients used peach wood as a wood to ward off evil spirits. The Book of Arts said, "Peach is the essence of five trees, so it also suppresses evil spirits."