CCTV9英语新闻：23rd of last lunar month marks "Little Spring Festival"

（单词翻译:单击）

Thursday marks a traditional Chinese festival, called Xiao Nian, or "Little Spring Festival", which is celebrated¹ on the 23rd day of the last lunar month.

According to Chinese tradition, Xiao Nian is a day for people to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God, clean their houses and eat melon-shaped candies. In Chinese legend, this god watches over people's actions and words in the kitchen. Then on Xiao Nian, he returns to heaven and reports back to the mighty² Jade³ Emperor. By offering candies to the Kitchen God on Xiao Nian, people hope he will become sweet-lipped, and say more good things about their home, thus bringing good fortune to the family.

The tradition also requires people to clean their houses, and put up spring festival decorations. But over time, this tradition has faded. While it continues to be observed in certain areas, especially the countrysides of north China, Xiao Nian is mostly now seen as a prelude⁴ to the larger Spring Festival celebration.

scrolls5 to citizens at Dongyue Temple, Beijing. " border="0" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/140124/14192MR6-0.jpg" alt="" />

Calligraphers give Spring Festival scrolls to citizens at Dongyue Temple, Beijing.   feast6 in Daxing district, Beijing." border="0" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/140124/14192L355-1.jpg" alt="" /> About one thousand people enjoy dumpling feast in Daxing district, Beijing.