中國民間傳統的祭灶日“小年”來到了。這一天人們通常通過祭灶和掃年來宣告整個春節慶祝活動的開始。也有日歷將臘月廿三和廿四都標注為小年，原因在于南北方的小年會相差一天，北方多數人廿三過小年，而南方人的小年則要晚一天。你們那里哪天過小年？

Little New Year (Chinese: Xiaonian), usually a week before the lunar New Year, falls on Feb 1 this year. It is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity who oversees the moral character of each household.

“小年”通常在農歷新年前一周左右，今年是在2月1日，也是年前的“祭灶日”。傳說中，灶王爺會監督著每家每戶的善惡。

Here are six things you should know about the Little New Year, another sign of the start of spring.

下面是“小年”的六種民間習俗，“小年”也預示著春季的開始。

1. Offer sacrifices to Kitchen God
祭灶王

File photo shows people participate in a sacrificial offering to the Kitchen God in Nantong, Jiangsu province, Feb 11, 2015. [Photo by Xu Peiqin/Asianewsphoto]

In one of the most distinctive traditions of the Little New Year is the burning of a paper image of the Kitchen God, dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by to the home through the pasting of a new paper image of him beside the stove. From this vantage point, the Kitchen God will oversee and protect the household for another year.
“小年”最具特色的風俗就是“祭灶王”，具體來講就是將舊的灶王像燒掉，送“灶王”上天稟報這家人過去一年的善惡。大年三十的晚上，要在灶臺旁貼一張新的灶王像，也就是“接灶”。這樣，來年“灶王爺”就能繼續監督并庇佑這一家人。

Most of the offerings are sweets of various varieties. It is thought that this will seal the Kitchen God's mouth and encourage him to only say good things about the family when he ascends to heaven to make his report.
人們還會在祭灶時給灶王爺擺上多種甜點做貢品，認為這會堵住灶王爺的嘴，讓他上天匯報時只說好話。