Answered on : 2024-01-23
In 2024, "小年" (Xiao Nian) is a significant traditional Chinese festival. It falls on February 2nd in the Gregorian calendar, which corresponds to the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month in the Chinese calendar (农历腊月廿三) [1][2].
"小年" is not a single festival but rather a term used for various prelude celebrations leading up to the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). During this period, people engage in customs such as cleaning their homes, pasting spring couplets (贴春联), and offering sacrifices to the kitchen god (祭灶) [3].
This festival is an important part of Chinese New Year preparations and traditions, symbolizing the transition from the old year to the new one and the welcoming of good fortune. It varies in date between northern and southern China, with northern "小年" occurring on February 2nd and southern "小年" on February 3rd in 2024 [3][4].
Please note that the date of "小年" may vary slightly in different years and regions due to the lunar calendar.