春节序曲：孩子必须知道的小年习俗(双语)

   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。Custom:Worshiping the Kitchen God

　　As the legend goes, there is a kitchen god in each house who isresponsible for the kitchen and oversees the conduct of the family.On this day, the kitchen god returns to Heaven to report theconducts of the family to the Emperor of Heaven. Therefore,worshipping the kitchen god aims to “please him。” People put outsome sweet and sticky foods, such as rice dumplings and maltedsugar. In this way, the lips of the kitchen god will stucktogether, and he cannot report any wrong doings of the family. Thusthe family can lead an auspicious life。

　　小年的风俗 Off-year customs

　　小年除了祭灶仪式外，前前后后还有许多风俗。如扫尘、贴对联、剪窗花、洗浴婚嫁等。可以说“小年”是“大年”春节的序曲，在民间人们把这段时间称之为“迎春日”。

　　There are many of the customs in addition to people ceremony inoff-year. Such as Spring dust, stick couplets, cut window, bath andhair, and marriage held，etc. It can be said that off year is theprelude of the Spring Festival. This time is known as "early springday" by the folk people。

　　扫尘 Spring Dust

　　为了迎接灶王爷，人们清除灶灰、扫墙，俗称“扫尘”。按民间的说法：“尘”与“陈”谐音，扫尘有“除陈布新”的含义，其用意是要把一切“穷运”、“晦气”统统扫地出门。这一习俗寄托着人们破旧立新的愿望和辞旧迎新的祈求。因此，到处洋溢着欢欢喜喜搞卫生、干干净净迎新春的气氛。

　　贴“灶王爷”像 Stick the picture of The kitchengod

　　小年前夕，大街小巷的杂货铺、百货摊都代卖“灶王爷”像。这种木版水印的神像，大多来自“版画之乡”——天津杨柳青。那和蔼、肃穆、善静的灶王爷盛装端坐，给人以一家之主的感觉。人们都要“请”回来一帧新的灶王爷像(不能说“买”)，来代替陈旧不堪的灶王爷像。

　　写对联 Write couplets

    家家户户都开始写对联。神灵前的对联特别讲究，多为敬仰和祈福之言。佛龛神像的两侧要贴上一副对联，上联写“上天言好事”，下联写“下界保平安”或“回宫降吉祥”，横幅是“一家之主”。因为紧靠春节春联也一并写成。民间讲究有神必贴，每门必贴。内容丰富，妙语联珠。

　　剪窗花 Cut window