What are the origins and customs of off-year life?

In China, the traditional folk days of offering sacrifices to stoves are the 23rd and 24th of the twelfth lunar month, also called "off-year". Most areas in the north are on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, and most areas in the south are on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. Legend has it that the Kitchen God reports to the sky on the 23rd and 24th of the twelfth lunar month and returns to the bottom of the kitchen on the New Year's Eve. People think it is necessary to worship the kitchen god and pray for peace and good luck in the coming year.

Customs:

1, paste the portrait of Kitchen God

Off-year is also a traditional day for offering sacrifices to stoves. In this small year, people will not only put honeydew melons and cakes on the console table in front of the kitchen god, but also replace the old kitchen god statue and paste the new kitchen god statue that every household "invites" back.

Step 2 cut the window grilles

Off-year is usually to prepare for the Spring Festival, and window cutting is the most popular folk activity. Window grilling is an ancient traditional folk art in China, and it is one of the varieties of paper-cutting. The contents of window grilles in the off-year include: magpies climbing plum blossoms, lions rolling hydrangeas, swallows wearing peaches and willows, peacocks playing peony, three sheep (Yang) opening a Thai garden, dragons playing pearls, and Yuanyang playing in water.

Off-site small year time difference

1, most parts of the north: the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month-"Northern off-year"

In ancient times, the northern region also celebrated the Lunar New Year on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. Since the middle and late Qing Dynasty, the royal family held a ceremony to worship heaven on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. In order to "save money", the kitchen god is also enshrined, so people in the northern region also celebrate the 23rd lunar month one day in advance.

2. Most areas in the south: the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month-"folk traditional off-year"

As early as the Song Dynasty, it was recorded that "the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month passed the off-year holiday", and in most parts of the south, the ancient tradition of celebrating off-year holiday on this day is still maintained. ?

3. Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai: the day before New Year's Eve-"New Year's Eve"

Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai used to call New Year's Eve "New Year's Eve". Accordingly, the night before New Year's Eve is called "New Year's Eve", and this day is also called "New Year's Eve". Historically, on the 24th night of the twelfth lunar month, Wu people call it the 24th night, which is the day to deliver the kitchen, because it is called the New Year's Eve.