苏说文化之中国小年（英文版）
ittle New Year, the time to worship Kitchen God
小年祭灶
双语版
Chinese Little New Year, also known as Kitchen God Festival, falls on the Lunar Chinese Dec 23 or 24. Kitchen God, or Zaojun in Chinese, is among the 365 formal gods in Chinese folklore. He, also affectionately called Kitchen Grandpa by Chinese people, accompanied by his wife, Kitchen Grandma, is appointed by Emperor Jade to oversee and protect the household. According to tradition, people will put up a paper image of them beside the stove in the kitchen to show their respect.
中国小年，亦称祭灶，在每年农历腊月23或24。灶王爷，又叫灶君，是中国民间传说365位正神之一。灶君和夫人奉玉皇大帝之命，来到人间，主持一家事务，保佑家人平安，人们又亲切地称其为灶王爷和灶王奶奶。按照传统，家家户户都会在灶台旁贴灶王爷像以示尊重。
Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty, a filial poor farmer named Yin Zifang in Nanyang preferred to worship Kitchen God. One day shortly before the Lunar New Year, Yin was making breakfast when the Kitchen God appeared to him. He knelt down and thanked the God. Although all Yin had was only one yellow sheep, he sacrificed it to Kitchen God. Yin soon became rich in and around the village. To show their gratitude, Yin’s generations started sacrificing a yellow goat to Kitchen God every winter on the day of the divine visitation. Inspired by the story of "yellow sheep sacrifice to Kitchen God", many people also slaughtered animals and offered sacrifices on the day. This is the origin of Little New Year.
传说，汉宣帝时，南阳阴子方者，性至孝，积恩好施，喜祀灶。腊日，晨炊，而灶神形见。子方再拜受庆，家有黄羊，因以祀之。自是已后，暴至巨富。故后子孙尝以腊日祀灶，而荐黄羊焉。受到“黄羊祭灶”传闻的启发，很多人亦在此日宰牲祭灶。这便是祭灶或小年的由来。
In China, there are numerous customs associated with Kitchen God in the day of Little New Year. One of them is Worshiping Kitchen God In the evening before Little New Year, the image of Kitchen God who has been overseeing and protecting the household for the past year is taken down from its position by the stove while offerings are prepared. The offerings include chicken, duck, fish, meat, melons, fruit, dumplings, sweets and so on. The offerings vary from region to region, most of which, however, are various sticky sweets. It is thought that the sweets will sweeten Kitchen God and seal his mouth, encouraging him only to say good things about the family when he ascends to Heaven to make his report to Emperor Jade. In the meantime, every family makes offerings to Kitchen God, in the hope that he will ask Emperor Jade to protect their household. According to a saying, "In Heaven good deeds are reported, on Earth safety is ensured."
在中国，小年时有许多与灶王爷有关的习俗，其中之一便是祭灶。小年前夜，人们会把辛苦了一年，守护家人平安的灶王爷从灶台旁请下来，同时准备好祭品。祭品包括鸡鸭鱼肉、瓜果、饺子、各式粘性糖果等。虽然各地祭品有所不同，但大都以糖果为主。人们认为，糖果可以让灶王爷的嘴变甜，上天向玉帝汇报时，只说好话。同时，人们祭灶，也是希望他上天后能请求玉帝保护家人平平安安。正如俗话所说：“上天言好事，下凡降吉祥”
A new image of Kitchen God will be pasted up on the same position beside the stove in the kitchen again on Lunar New Year's Eve, a ceremony known as "Welcoming Back Kitchen God." According to a Chinese saying, "On the twenty-third day he ascends to Heaven; on New Year's Day he returns to Earth." From this vantage point, Kitchen God will oversee and protect the household for another year.
新的灶王爷像会在除夕再次贴在灶台边的高出，称为“迎灶王”。中国谚语有云，灶王爷会在“二十三日去，初一更回家。”在新的一年里，灶王爷继续高高在上，保佑家人安康。
During the time between Laba Festival and Little New Year, families throughout China will undertake a thorough house cleanup, sweeping out the old and preparing for the new.
腊八后，小年前，全国各地家庭都会进行一次彻底打扫，除旧迎新。
