文化中國行丨小年已至 大年不遠

時間：2025-01-22 來源：新聞傳媒中心

　“一(yi)(yi)碗清湯(tang)詩一(yi)(yi)篇(pian)，灶(zao)君今日上青天；玉皇若問人(ren)間事，亂世文章不值錢。”這是(shi)宋代詩人(ren)呂蒙正(zheng)的(de)一(yi)(yi)首(shou)祭(ji)灶(zao)詩。祭(ji)灶(zao)當日，又俗(su)稱(cheng)“小年(nian)”，它作為農歷(li)新年(nian)的(de)前奏，標志(zhi)著(zhu)除夕(xi)即將到來。 在中(zhong)國，人(ren)們相信有一(yi)(yi)位名叫“灶(zao)王(wang)爺”的(de)神靈居住在家(jia)里的(de)灶(zao)臺(tai)上，而小年(nian)這天正(zheng)是(shi)其生日。過小年(nian)不僅是(shi)一(yi)(yi)段(duan)繁忙準備的(de)開始，也是(shi)家(jia)庭團聚和祈福的(de)重要時刻(ke)。

　　"A bowl of clear soup and a poem, the Kitchen God ascends to the heavens today; if the Jade Emperor asks about the affairs of the world, chaotic times make writings worthless." This is a poem by the Song Dynasty poet Lu Mengzheng for the Kitchen God Festival. On the day of the Kitchen God Festival, also commonly known as "Little New Year," it marks the prelude to the Lunar New Year, signifying the impending arrival of Chinese New Year's Eve. In China, it is believed that a deity named the "Kitchen God" resides on the family's stove, and the Kitchen God Festival is his birthday. Celebrating Little New Year is not only the beginning of a busy period of preparation but also an important time for family reunions and blessings.

　　小年與灶王爺的傳說

　　The Legend of Little New Year and the Kitchen God

　　傳說灶王(wang)爺(ye)原為(wei)平民張生，娶妻之后敗盡(jin)家(jia)業，淪落為(wei)乞丐。一(yi)天，他乞討到了前妻郭丁香(xiang)家(jia)，因羞愧一(yi)頭(tou)鉆到灶鍋底下燒(shao)死(si)了。感動于(yu)他最后的(de)悔改，玉(yu)帝(di)封(feng)他為(wei)灶王(wang)，讓其每年(nian)臘月二十(shi)(shi)三或二十(shi)(shi)四上(shang)升(sheng)天庭(ting)(ting)匯報這家(jia)人的(de)善惡(e)，在大年(nian)三十(shi)(shi)返(fan)回人間繼(ji)續守護家(jia)庭(ting)(ting)。為(wei)了確保灶王(wang)爺(ye)能在天上(shang)說好話，人們(men)會在灶王(wang)像(xiang)兩(liang)邊貼上(shang)諸如“上(shang)天言好事，下界保平安”的(de)對聯，以此祈福求順。

　　According to legend, the Kitchen God was originally a commoner named Zhang Sheng. After marrying, he squandered his family's wealth and eventually became a beggar. One day, he begged at the home of his ex-wife, Guo Dingxiang, and out of shame, he hid under the stove and died in the fire. Touched by his final repentance, the Jade Emperor appointed him as the Kitchen God, allowing him to ascend to the heavenly court on the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month to report on the family's virtues and vices. He returns to the human world on New Year's Eve to continue protecting the household. To ensure that the Kitchen God speaks favorably in heaven, people often place couplets next to his image, such as "Speak well in heaven, protect peace on earth," as a way to seek blessings and smoothness.

　　小年到底是哪天？

　　When Exactly is Little New Year?

　　在中國(guo)，古(gu)人過小(xiao)(xiao)年(nian)有“官(guan)三、民四、船五”之分：北方地區多受官(guan)方文化影響，選擇在臘月二(er)十三慶祝小(xiao)(xiao)年(nian)；南方遠離(li)政治中心，傾向于臘月二(er)十四過小(xiao)(xiao)年(nian)；而一些(xie)漁(yu)家，則會在臘月二(er)十五過小(xiao)(xiao)年(nian)。

　　In China, there is a traditional saying about the celebration dates of Little New Year: "officials on the 23rd, commoners on the 24th, and fishing families on the 25th." In the northern areas, which have been more influenced by official culture, Little New Year is celebrated on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.In the southern regions, which are farther from the political center, it is observed on the 24th.Meanwhile, some fishing families celebrate it on the 25th.

　　小年有什么習俗？

　　What Are the Customs of Little New Year?

　　祭(ji)灶(zao)(zao)王：這(zhe)是小年的核心習俗之一。送灶(zao)(zao)時(shi)，人們通常會在灶(zao)(zao)王像(xiang)前(qian)擺放(fang)又甜又粘(zhan)的糖瓜，寓意(yi)灶(zao)(zao)君吃了之后嘴被粘(zhan)住不說壞話，以求來(lai)年的平安順遂。

　　Worshipping the Kitchen God: This is one of the core customs of Little New Year. When bidding farewell to the Kitchen God, people typically place sweet and sticky sugar melons in front of his image. The idea is that after eating these, his mouth will be stuck and he won't speak ill, ensuring a peaceful and smooth year ahead.

　　吃(chi)灶糖：這是小年祭灶必(bi)備的食(shi)物之一(yi)(yi)，一(yi)(yi)口下去(qu)，甜甜黏黏。

　　Eating Kitchen God’s Candy: This is one of the essential foods for the Kitchen God Festival. With each bite, it is sweet and sticky.

　　大(da)掃(sao)(sao)除：從臘月二十三起至(zhi)除夕止(zhi)被(bei)稱為“迎春日”或“掃(sao)(sao)塵日”。在此(ci)期間，家家戶戶都會(hui)進行一次徹底的(de)(de)大(da)掃(sao)(sao)除，清除舊年(nian)的(de)(de)晦(hui)氣，迎接新年(nian)的(de)(de)好運(yun)。

　　Spring Cleaning: From the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month until New Year's Eve, this period is known as the "Spring Welcoming Day" or "Dust Sweeping Day." During this time, every household conducts a thorough cleaning to remove the bad luck of the old year and welcome the good fortune of the new year.

　　剪窗花：在北方流行剪貼窗花，喜鵲登(deng)梅、燕穿桃(tao)柳等精美的窗花圖案(an)寄托了人們對未來(lai)幸福生活的期盼。

　　Paper Cuttings: In the north, it is popular to cut and paste paper cuttings on windows. Beautiful patterns such as magpies perched on plum blossoms and swallows flying through peach and willow branches express people's hopes for a happy future.

　　吃(chi)餃子吃(chi)年(nian)糕：北方小年(nian)有吃(chi)餃子的傳統，取(qu)意“送(song)行餃子迎風面(mian)”，送(song)別灶王爺的同時也為(wei)家人帶來好運(yun)；南方小年(nian)吃(chi)年(nian)糕，因為(wei)“糕”諧音“高”，代表著生活水(shui)平一年(nian)比一年(nian)高。

　　Eating Dumplings and Rice Cakes: In the north, it is traditional to eat dumplings during Little New Year, symbolizing "sending off with dumplings and welcoming with noodles," bidding farewell to the Kitchen God while also bringing good fortune to the family. In the south, people eat rice cakes because "cake" is a homophone for "high" in Chinese, representing a higher standard of living each year.

　　小年(nian)已至，大年(nian)不遠，游子(zi)們歸家的路也愈加(jia)清晰。帶(dai)著對(dui)新年(nian)的期許(xu)，家家戶(hu)(hu)戶(hu)(hu)在這溫馨的氛圍(wei)中(zhong)迎接團(tuan)圓與幸福的到(dao)來(lai)。

　　With Little New Year here, the Spring Festival is not far away, and the path for wanderers returning home becomes clearer. Carrying expectations for the new year, families welcome reunion and happiness in this warm atmosphere.　　（大眾網）