What kind of candy do people eat on the Little New Year?
(1) Guandong Sugar
Guandong sugar, also known as Zao Wang sugar or big block sugar, is only sold around the time of the Little New Year. It is a sugar product made from malt and millet. It is used for the ritual to the Kitchen God. The white, large block of sugar is placed on a square tray, usually about three inches long and one inch wide, flat and in a thread-like shape. When you bite into a freshly made large block of sugar, it is crispy and fragrant, sticky, with a special flavor, and is a favorite candy among people in the northeast of China. It has moved from the altar of the Kitchen God and is now widely enjoyed by the general public.
(2) Sugar Melon
In Beijing, there is a folk song: "Sugar melon offers sacrifice to the Kitchen God." The first food to enter the festival is the sugar melon used for the "sacrifice to the Kitchen God." The sugar melon is round and plump, made from malt sugar, sweet with a slightly sour taste, and makes a good snack. Unfortunately, it is not commonly seen nowadays.
(3) Ma Sugar
Ma sugar is a square-shaped candy made by sticking cooked rice, peanuts, and dates together with syrup. It is used to "glue" the mouth of the Kitchen God so that he can speak well of the people before the Jade Emperor. In the northwest of Shanxi province, there is a saying: "On the 23rd, eat Ma sugar; if you can't eat it, bite your fingers." According to legend, the Little New Year is the day when the Kitchen God ascends to heaven to report to the heavenly emperor about the daily life of people on earth and other matters the emperor wants to know. This is the Kitchen God's report day. Eating Ma sugar is intended to stick the Kitchen God's mouth with sugar so that he cannot open it and cannot report the luxurious life of people on earth, thus avoiding punishment for those who love eating and drinking - which could bring famine in the new year, hoping for a safe and bountiful year ahead.
Guandong sugar, also known as Zao Wang sugar or big block sugar, is only sold around the time of the Little New Year. It is a sugar product made from malt and millet. It is used for the ritual to the Kitchen God. The white, large block of sugar is placed on a square tray, usually about three inches long and one inch wide, flat and in a thread-like shape. When you bite into a freshly made large block of sugar, it is crispy and fragrant, sticky, with a special flavor, and is a favorite candy among people in the northeast of China. It has moved from the altar of the Kitchen God and is now widely enjoyed by the general public.
(2) Sugar Melon
In Beijing, there is a folk song: "Sugar melon offers sacrifice to the Kitchen God." The first food to enter the festival is the sugar melon used for the "sacrifice to the Kitchen God." The sugar melon is round and plump, made from malt sugar, sweet with a slightly sour taste, and makes a good snack. Unfortunately, it is not commonly seen nowadays.
(3) Ma Sugar
Ma sugar is a square-shaped candy made by sticking cooked rice, peanuts, and dates together with syrup. It is used to "glue" the mouth of the Kitchen God so that he can speak well of the people before the Jade Emperor. In the northwest of Shanxi province, there is a saying: "On the 23rd, eat Ma sugar; if you can't eat it, bite your fingers." According to legend, the Little New Year is the day when the Kitchen God ascends to heaven to report to the heavenly emperor about the daily life of people on earth and other matters the emperor wants to know. This is the Kitchen God's report day. Eating Ma sugar is intended to stick the Kitchen God's mouth with sugar so that he cannot open it and cannot report the luxurious life of people on earth, thus avoiding punishment for those who love eating and drinking - which could bring famine in the new year, hoping for a safe and bountiful year ahead.
Different times of the Little New Year in various regions
--- Northern regions: December 23rd --- "Northern Little New Year"Starting from the middle and late Qing Dynasty, the imperial family held a grand ceremony to worship the heavens on December 23rd. To "save money", they also paid homage to the Kitchen God, so many northern regions celebrate the Little New Year on December 23rd.
--- Southern regions: December 24th --- "Traditional Folk Little New Year"
As early as the Song Dynasty, there were records of "celebrating the Little New Year on December 24th." Most areas in the south still maintain this ancient tradition of celebrating the Little New Year on this day.
--- Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions: the night before the Lunar New Year Eve --- "Little New Year's Eve"
The Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions refer to the Lunar New Year Eve as the "Big New Year's Eve," and accordingly, the night before is called the "Little New Year's Eve," which is also known as the Little New Year. Historically, the night of December 24th was called "Nineteen Night" by the people of Wu, and it was the day of sending off the Kitchen God, hence called "Little New Year's Eve."
--- Some areas in Sichuan and Guizhou: the night of the Lunar New Year Eve --- "Little New Year"
In some parts of southwest China, people celebrate the Little New Year on the night of the Lunar New Year Eve. Their major New Year celebration is often on the 14th or 15th of the first lunar month.
--- Nanjing and other areas in Jiangsu: the 15th day of the first lunar month --- "Lantern Festival Little New Year"
According to legend, after the Ming Emperor Zhu Di seized power, the people of Nanjing were discontented with his cruelty and harsh rule. They used the Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month to remember a previous benevolent emperor, so the Lantern Festival became the Little New Year in Nanjing.
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