The 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, also known as the day of sacrificing to the kitchen, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. So what are the customs and taboos on this day? Let's take a look.
1. Sacrifice to the kitchen King: according to the Han people's folklore, on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month every year, the kitchen king will report the good and evil of his family to the Jade Emperor, who will reward and punish him. Therefore, when delivering the kitchen, people put various tributes on the table in front of the kitchen King's statue. After sending the kitchen god away, it's their turn to worship the ancestors.
2. Dust sweeping and window cutting: after a small year, the feet of the new year will be closer. The purpose of dust sweeping is to remove the old and usher in the new, and remove the ominous. Window cutting is the most popular folk activity. Every family will usher in a new year in a clean and bright environment.
3. Bathing: there is a folk saying that "if you have money, you can shave your head for the Spring Festival". Therefore, no matter adults or children, they will have bath and haircut activities on this day.
4. Marriage: according to the folk custom, after twenty-three years, there is no taboo. To marry a daughter-in-law or hire a daughter-in-law without choosing a day is called a disorderly marriage.
5. Eating dumplings: there is another important custom on the new year's day, that is, eating dumplings, which means seeing off the kitchen god. There is a custom of eating fried corn in Southeast Shanxi.