Why do different regions have different dates for the Little New Year?

The Little New Year is a traditional Chinese festival, but the date varies across different regions. So why do the specific dates differ? What do people usually eat on the Little New Year? Let's find out with Huayi Network!
As winter fades and spring arrives, the twelfth month of the lunar calendar is the last month of winter, so it is also called "late winter," but even in late winter, the cold remains intense. Once the twelfth lunar month passes, we will soon start a new year.

Why do different regions have different dates for the Little New Year?

In northern China, before the Southern Song Dynasty, it was the political center of the country. Influenced by officials, the Little New Year was generally set on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. At that time, the south was far from the political center, and to distinguish itself from the north, the people in the south set the Little New Year on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. People living near lakes or seas retained the tradition of water-dwelling communities, and the Little New Year was usually set on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month. Nanjing is a special region. After Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty staged the Jingnan Rebellion and usurped the throne from Emperor Zhu Yunwen, he imposed harsh rule on the people of Nanjing. In the first year of Yongle, on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the people held a lantern festival. At that time, the people longed for the lenient policies of Emperor Zhu Yunwen's reign, and the lively atmosphere of the lantern festival was comparable to that of the Spring Festival. Therefore, in the Nanjing area, many people choose to celebrate the Little New Year on the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th day of the first lunar month. The people in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, as well as the Hui people in the north, regard the first day of the first lunar month as the big New Year's Eve, and the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, which is the Lunar New Year's Eve, as the small New Year's Eve.

What do people usually eat on the Little New Year?

1. Dumplings
The Little New Year is also the time for sacrificing to the Kitchen God. In northern China, when people offer dumplings to the Kitchen God, they serve a bowl of dumplings because of the saying, "Send off the Kitchen God with dumplings and welcome the New Year with noodles."
2. Sugar Cakes
Sugar cakes are a traditional Han ethnic snack. They are generally divided into Guandong sugar and sugar melons. The main ingredient is maltose. When maltose is stretched into long sticks, it is called Guandong sugar. When it is made into flat round shapes, it is called sugar melons. The surface of sugar melons can also be sprinkled with sesame seeds. In the folk song "After the Laba Festival, it's the New Year," there is a line: "On the 23rd, the sugar melon sticks," which refers to eating sugar melons on the Little New Year.
3. Rice Cakes
In some parts of Guangxi, there is a custom of making rice cakes on the Little New Year. The main ingredients of rice cakes are glutinous rice flour. Some sesame, peanuts, and white sugar are added, then placed into a round mold and steamed. Eating them on the Little New Year symbolizes reunion and happiness.
4. Sesame Sugar
There is a saying, "On the 23rd, eat sesame sugar; if you can't eat it, bite your fingers." It means that on the Little New Year, sesame sugar should be prepared. Sesame sugar is a square candy. After rice, peanuts, and dates are stir-fried, they are mixed with syrup to make them stick together. This is called sesame sugar.
5. Flatbread
On the Little New Year, some places in the north also eat flatbread. The main ingredients include flour, fresh meat, scallions, and Sichuan pepper. Due to differences in local customs, the ingredients added vary by region.
6. Sticky Rice Cake
In some parts of Shandong, there is a folk rhyme, "On the 23rd, sticky rice cake sticks," referring to eating sticky rice cakes on the Little New Year, which is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. Sticky rice cakes have strong adhesiveness, symbolizing the hope that the Kitchen God will stick his mouth shut.
7. Year Zongzi
There is a saying, "Year Zongzi, year Zongzi, every year high (Zong)!" In Nanning, there is a custom of eating year zongzi on the Little New Year. Year zongzi usually has fillings, such as mung beans and pork. Of course, the filling inside can be decided according to personal preference. The outside is wrapped with glutinous rice and then wrapped in bamboo leaves, completing the making of the year zongzi.
8. Noodles
In some parts of Shandong, on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, which is the Little New Year, every family makes various kinds of bread, round cakes, and peach-shaped pastries. These breads are made into various shapes and then steamed. Such breads are called "flower-shaped breads," symbolizing reunion and prosperity every year.
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