What should be noted about the taboos on the Little New Year
1、Women are not allowed to perform the sacrificial rites for the Kitchen GodThere is a saying, "Men do not worship the moon, women do not offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God." This means that men cannot worship the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and women cannot offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God during the Little New Year. As for the reasons, some say that it is unlucky for women to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God, while others believe that it would cause conflict, so it must be done by men.
2、Daughters who have been married cannot return to their parents' home to perform the sacrificial rites
The old saying goes, "Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, the whole family must be present," meaning that on the day of the Kitchen God sacrifice, all members of the family should be at home and cannot be absent. A daughter who has been married belongs to her husband's family, and she should spend the Little New Year with her husband's family. If she returns to her parents' home, although in a sense it is still her own home.
3、Do not borrow things
As the year-end approaches, every household is busy preparing New Year goods and cleaning the house, which leads to neighbors borrowing things from each other. However, on the day of the Little New Year, even if something is urgently needed, one should not go to someone else's house to borrow it.
As the Spring Festival approaches, neighbors working away from home gradually return, making previously quiet villages lively. More people visit each other, but one should avoid visiting others on the day of the Little New Year. According to folk beliefs, the Little New Year is a traditional festival. The word "year" in its name indicates its importance, which is self-evident.
5、Do not speak unpropitious words
The phrase "When the Little New Year comes, the Kitchen God is honored; he will speak well of you in heaven and protect peace on earth" is familiar to many. According to legend, on the day of the Little New Year, the Kitchen God ascends to heaven to report on what happened during the year to the Jade Emperor. Worshiping the Kitchen God aims to have him speak favorably on your behalf, hoping for a smooth and safe coming year.
6、Do not kill living beings
After entering the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival becomes stronger, and every household begins to prepare New Year goods. Therefore, killing chickens, fish, and pigs is quite common. However, one should avoid killing on the day of the Little New Year. It can be done earlier or later.
Can you eat at someone else's home on the Little New Year?
You can spend the Little New Year at someone else's home. In China, the Little New Year is also a relatively festive holiday, and many people choose to have family reunions and eat together on this day. However, some friends may live far from home, so they choose to celebrate the Little New Year with good friends or close relatives.In feudal society, daughters who returned to their parents' home were often scolded by their in-laws and even by their own family. They would also be criticized by others for being disloyal. However, with the progress of the times, such traditional customs are no longer taken as seriously. Not only on the Little New Year, but many people also return to their parents' home in daily life. So there is no problem with this.
