Xiao Nian Jie 小年節 – Small New Year Festival
On the day 23rd day of the 12th lunar month Xiao Nian Jie小年節, Small New Year, is celebrated in China. This festival plays an important role in Chinese folklore and is dedicated to ZaoShen 灶神, the Kitchen God. It is commonly believed that in every kitchen resides a kitchen spirit as long as there is a flame. This conviction was even more evident in the past when people used fire to prepare their meals.
ZaoShen 灶神 is thought of as managing the kitchen stoves and looking after the family. He is also the one who every year on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month ascends to the Heavens to report to YuHuang DaDi 玉皇大帝, the Jade Emperor, about the family’s behavior. Depending on if ZaoShen 灶神has something good or bad to tell, the family then will receive good luck or misfortune. YuHuang DaDi 玉皇大帝, the Jade Emperor, either grants them support or punishes their misdeeds.
In the nighttime of Xiao Nian Jie小年節, Small New Year, specifically with the beginning of the timeslot 亥 hai, 9:00-11:00pm, offerings are made: incense, food and drinks and besides of these also sugar cakes. Especially these sugar cakes serve the purpose of propitiating Zao Shen 灶神so that he has nothing bad to report about the family; he eats good food, he will tell good things. Another interpretation is that after having eaten the sugar cakes which are very sweet and very sticky Zao Shen 灶神 won’t be able to tell anything cause they made his teeth stick together.
The main and most significant idea of this festival is that people do not forget to be a good human: kindhearted, compassionate, benevolent, inclusive, righteous; to think, to act and to talk good. If people behave according to these principles they don’t have to fear any punishment and play their role to make this world a better place.
For now we wish everyone Xiao Nian KuaiLe 小年快樂, a happy Small New Year, and hope that all our readers bear the meaning of this festival in mind and let their light and love shine on every living being.
