When did you spend your off-year in the north?

The off-year in the north is the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. Due to different local customs, the days called "off-year" are different. Before the middle of the Qing Dynasty, the day of offering sacrifices to stoves in the north was also the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. At least during the Qianlong period, northerners celebrated the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. However, since the middle and late Qing Dynasty, the emperor's family held a ceremony to worship heaven on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. In order to "save money", they also offered sacrifices to the kitchen god. Therefore, people in the north also celebrate their off-year holiday on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month one day in advance.

The custom of off-year in the north

Stick grilles: Cutting and pasting window grilles is a popular folk activity in the north. Generally, there are patterns of window grilles, such as magpie climbing plum, peacock playing peony, lion rolling hydrangea, three sheep opening Thailand, two dragons playing pearls, Yuanyang playing in water and so on. Hanging window grilles means that the new year is getting better and better.

Eat jiaozi: jiaozi will be seen in almost every festival in the north. On New Year's Eve, we eat jiaozi, which means "seeing jiaozi off against the wind". Eat more cakes and buckwheat noodles in mountainous areas. In the southeast of Shanxi, the custom of eating fried corn is popular. A folk proverb says, "If you don't eat fried corn, you'll get a pot on New Year's Day." People like to bond fried corn with maltose and freeze it into pieces, which tastes crisp and sweet.

In the north, after the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, people think that the gods went to heaven and everything was forgiven. So there is no need to choose a date to marry a daughter-in-law and hire a prostitute. This is called "rushing to get married". The folk song is "busy marriage in the countryside, Yichun posts tease spring scenery." Sisters talk privately in front of the lights. This year is the bridal chamber.