[转载]最地道过年习俗：从小年到元宵

腊月二十三——小年
December 23 of the Lunar Calendar (Little New Year)

Custom: Worshiping the Kitchen God
As the legend goes, there is a kitchen god in each house who is responsible for the kitchen and oversees the conduct of the family. On this day, the kitchen god returns to Heaven to report the conducts of the family to the Emperor of Heaven. Therefore, worshipping the kitchen god aims to “please him.” People put out some sweet and sticky foods, such as rice dumplings and malted sugar. In this way, the lips of the kitchen god will stuck together, and he cannot report any wrong doings of the family. Thus the family can lead an auspicious life.

习俗：祭灶
民俗传说中，每家都有一位灶神掌管饮食，也记录一家人的言行。今天，灶神就要返回天庭汇报这一户人一年的大小事，所以祭灶的主题就是“拉拢灶神”。在厨房内摆放些甜而粘牙的如汤圆、麦芽糖等食物，灶神的嘴被粘住，就少汇报些坏事，才能天降吉祥。

腊月二十四
December 24 of the Lunar Calendar

Custom: Dusting
After worshipping the kitchen god, people begin to thoroughly clean their houses to sweep away bad luck and welcome good luck. Dusting shows the good wish of putting away old things and welcoming a new life, making everything look fresh in the new year.

习俗：扫尘
祭灶后，人们便开始大扫除，扫尘除灾，以迎祥纳福。扫尘也是辞旧迎新，求的是万象更新的新年新气象。

腊月二十五
December 25 of the Lunar Calendar

Custom: Pasting Window Paper and Making Tofu
The times for pasting window paper are gone. Nowadays, the tradition is replaced by cleaning windows. Tofu is homophonic with “Toufu (first fortune of the year)”, so it is considered as a good food which brings happiness. In order to prepare it for the Spring Festival, people should begin to grind beans and make tofu today.

习俗：糊窗户、磨豆腐
纸糊窗户的时代已经过去，所以如今这习俗已经被擦玻璃取代。而豆腐音同“头福”，被视为能够为新年带来福气的好食材，要为过年做准备，今天就要开始磨豆自制豆腐了。

腊月二十六
December 26 of the Lunar Calendar

Custom: Preparation of Meat and Shopping for the Spring Festival
When there was insufficient food in the past, the majority of ordinary people could enjoy a comparatively lavish feast only during the Spring Festival can be started on the day. Besides meat and fish, people also purchase cigarettes, wines, fruits, gifts and festive ornaments.

习俗：割年肉、置年货
在物质不丰富的年代，大多寻常人家要到年节期间才能吃得丰富一些。割年肉主要指准备春节的肉食，实际上也代表各种年货可以从这一天开始置办，除了鱼、肉，还有烟酒瓜果以及礼品、装饰等。

腊月二十七
December 27 of the Lunar Calendar

Custom: Bating and Going to the Market
According to the traditional folk customs of the Han ethnic group, people should take a bath and do their washings to get rid of bad luck from the past year and welcome the new year. Besides the purpose of purchasing goods, people also go shopping to enjoy the exciting atmosphere of the Spring Festival in advance.

习俗：洗浴、赶集
汉族传统民俗中，在这天要洗澡、洗衣，以除去一年的晦气，准备迎接来年的新春。赶集，除了担负置办年货的任务，也能提前感受过年的热闹气息。

腊月二十八
December 28 of the Lunar Calendar

Custom: Leaving Dough and Pasting Spring Couplets
Besides meat and side dishes, people also prepare cooked wheaten food for the Spring Festival. People in north China mainly eat noodles. They leaven dough, steam buns or cook noodles during the Spring Festival. Today, people also paste spring couplets and pictures. With concise texts and festive patterns, people show their welcome for the Spring Festival. In addition, these activities indicate that the Spring Festival begins.

习俗：发面、贴春联
准备了肉食配菜后，也要准备主食。北方以面为主食，发好面，可以在春节期间蒸馒头或者做面条等食物。这一天也是将春联、年画贴出来的日子。以简洁的文字和喜庆的图案迎接春节、抒发愿望，也意味着春节正式拉开帷幕。

腊月二十九——小除夕
December 29 of the Lunar Calendar

Custom: Paying Tribute to Ancestors
Preparation for the Spring Festival should be completed today, the day before New Year’s Eve. Worshipping ancestors is also a major event on this day, by which people express their gratitude and yearning for their ancestors during the important festival.

习俗：祭祖
过年的准备工作将在除夕前一天的今天全部完成。除此之外，祭祖也是这天的重要活动，以在春节这最重要的节日表达感恩与思念。

本文来自：http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5fb3c51d0102vdrx.html