“一碗清湯詩(shī)一篇，灶君本日上蒼天；玉皇若問東談主間事，濁世著述不值錢?！边@是宋代詩(shī)東談主呂蒙正的一首祭灶詩(shī)。祭灶當(dāng)日，又俗稱“小年”，它動(dòng)作農(nóng)歷新年的前奏，符號(hào)著除夜行將到來(lái)。 在中國(guó)，東談主們折服有一位名叫“灶王爺”的神靈居住在家里的灶臺(tái)上，而小年這天恰是其誕辰。過小年不僅是一段重荷準(zhǔn)備的驅(qū)動(dòng)，亦然家庭團(tuán)員和祝頌的進(jìn)擊時(shí)分。

　　“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?shù)膫髌?/p>

　　The Legend of Little New Year and the Kitchen God

　　傳奇灶王爺原為蒼生張生，受室之后敗盡家業(yè)，著迷為叫花子。一天，他乞討到了前妻郭丁香家，因慚愧一頭鉆到灶鍋下面燒死了。感動(dòng)于他終末的改過，玉帝封他為灶王，讓其每年臘月二十三或二十四高潮天廷文書這家東談主的善惡，在大年三十復(fù)返東談主間不息督察家庭。為了確保灶王爺能在天上說(shuō)好話，東談主們會(huì)在灶王像雙方貼上諸如“上天言功德，下界保禎祥”的對(duì)子，以此祝頌求順。

　　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(guó)，古東談主過小年有“官三、民四、船五”之分：朔方地區(qū)多受官方文化影響，遴薦在臘月二十三慶祝小年；南迢遙離政事中心，傾向于臘月二十四過小年；而一些漁家，則會(huì)在臘月二十五過小年。

　　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(xí)俗？

　　What Are the Customs of Little New Year?

　　祭灶王：這是小年的中樞習(xí)俗之一。送灶時(shí)，東談主們經(jīng)常會(huì)在灶王像前擺放又甜又粘的糖瓜，寓意灶君吃了之后嘴被粘住不說(shuō)鬼話，以求來(lái)年的禎祥唾手。

　　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.

　　吃灶糖：這是小年祭灶必備的食品之一，一口下去，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.

　　大掃除：從臘月二十三起至除夜止被稱為“迎春日”或“掃塵日”。在此工夫，家家戶戶王人會(huì)進(jìn)行一次澈底的大掃除，打消掉年的糟糕，理睬新年的好運(yùn)。

　　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：在朔方流行剪貼窗花，喜鵲登梅、燕穿桃柳等縝密的窗花圖案奉求了東談主們對(duì)將來(lái)幸福生計(jì)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.

　　吃餃子吃年糕：朔方小年有吃餃子的傳統(tǒng)，取意“送行餃子頂風(fēng)面”，送別灶王爺?shù)耐谝矠榧覗|談主帶來(lái)好運(yùn)；南邊小年吃年糕，因?yàn)椤案狻敝C音“高”，代表著生流水平一年比一年高。

　　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.

　　小年已至，大年不遠(yuǎn)，游子們歸家的路也更加了了。帶著對(duì)新年的盼望，家家戶戶在這溫馨的氛圍中理睬團(tuán)圓與幸福的到來(lái)。

　　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.

　?。ú糠炙夭钠鹗祝禾煅坌侣?封面新聞）

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　　視頻：周溪琳

　　案牘、配音：武瑋佳