小年也有南北差異：北方是臘月廿三，部分南方地區是臘月廿四，江浙滬把"臘月廿四"和"除夕前一夜"都稱為小年夜；安徽北部和南京地區把過小年和過元宵合在一塊；雲南部分地區是正月十六，而西南和北方部分少數民族地區則又是除夕… 你家在哪，小年是哪天？
（圖片來源：全景視覺）
根據《現代漢語詞典》的解釋，「小年」一詞，其實有三個義項，而每個義項對應的英語不同。
義項一：指農曆臘月是小建的年份，也就是說，農曆臘月只有29天，沒有年三十的年份。
即：lunar year in which the last month has 29 days
義項二：節日，臘月二十三或二十四日，舊俗這天祭灶。
即：festival on the 23rd or 24th of the 12th month of the lunar year, when sacrifices are made to the kitchen god
義項三：指果樹歇枝、竹子等生長得慢的年份。
即：off year; non-bearing year (for fruit trees, bamboo, etc.)
顯然，我們今天所指的小年就是第二個義項。那麼，小年到底如何譯為英文呢？我們來看看官媒的報導↓
▲ 新華網英文報導
▲ 中國網英文報導
▲ CGTN報導
▲ 新華網英文報導
▲ CGTN報導
▲ 人民網英文報導
可以看出，小年譯為「Little New Year」「Xiaonian」或者「Minor New Year」均可。
好啦，學會了譯法，接下來就來看看小年有哪些習俗？
Today kicks off Xiaonian (literally minor New Year), the day when people celebrate the beginning of the Spring Festival. The day falls on the 23rd (Northern China) and 24th(Southern China) of La Yue, the last month on the Chinese calendar. On this day, people clean their homes and pray to the Kitchen God, asking him to say good things for them when he reports to the Jade Emperor.
今天是小年，是整個春節慶祝活動的開始。這個節日一般在臘月（最後一個月）二十三（北方）和臘月二十四（南方）。在這一天，人們會打掃房屋、拜灶神，求灶神向玉皇大帝匯報時為他們說好話。
There are numerous customs associated with honoring the Kitchen God and preparing for the Spring Festival. Here are some traditional things you should know about the Little New Year.
敬灶神和迎春節有各種各樣的習俗。下面就讓我們來看看關於「小年」的一些傳統習俗：
Offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God
祭灶神
In one of the most distinctive traditions of the Little New Year is the burning of a paper image of the Kitchen God, dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by to the home through the pasting of a new paper image of him beside the stove. From this vantage point, the Kitchen God will oversee and protect the household for another year.
小年最具特色的風俗就是「祭灶神」，具體來說就是將舊的灶神像燒掉，送「灶神」上天去稟報這家人在過去一年的善惡。到時（譯者註：大年三十的晚上）將新的灶神像貼在灶臺旁，也就是「接灶」。這樣，來年「灶王爺」就能繼續監視並庇佑這一家人。
The offerings to the Kitchen God include pig's head, fish, sweet bean paste, melons, fruit, boiled dumplings, barley sugar, and Guandong candy, a sticky treat made out of glutinous millet and sprouted wheat. Most of the offerings are sweets of various varieties. It is thought that this will seal the Kitchen God's mouth and encourage him to only say good things about the family when he ascends to heaven to make his report. The Kitchen God will be invited to sit in a sedan chair for his trip to heaven.
人們往往會給灶神供上豬頭、魚、豆沙、瓜果、煮熟的餃子、麥芽糖、灶糖和關東糖（一種用麥芽、小米製成的粘糖）。大部分供品是各式各樣的甜品。傳說這樣是為了封住灶神的嘴，讓他坐轎上天匯報時，只說這戶人家的好話。
Between Laba Festival, on the eighth day of the last lunar month, and Little New Year, families throughout China undertake a thorough house cleaning, sweeping out the old in preparation for the New Year.
從臘八(農曆最後一個月的第八天)到小年期間，中國各地的家庭都要進行一次徹底的房屋大掃除，除舊迎新。
According to Chinese folk beliefs, during the last month of the year ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth. It is believed that in order to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure people must thoroughly clean both their persons and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.
根據中國民間習俗，鬼魂和神明都要在臘月選擇返回天上或是留在人間。傳說為了確保他們及時離開，人們必須徹底清潔身體和住所，抽屜和碗櫃犄角旮旯的地方也都要打掃乾淨。
Paste paper-cuts to windows
貼窗花
In the Little New Year, old couplets and paper-cuts from the previous Spring Festival are taken down, and new window decorations, New Year's posters, and auspicious decorations are pasted up.
小年當天，人們會取下前一年的春聯和窗花，貼上新的窗花、年畫和各種吉祥的裝飾品。
As the old Chinese saying goes, whether they're rich or poor, people often have a haircut before the Spring Festival. The activity of taking bath and haircut is often taken on the Little New Year.
民間有「有錢沒錢，剃頭過年」的說法。小年時，人們常要沐浴理髮。
Preparations for Spring Festival
辦年貨
People start to stock up necessary provisions for the Spring Festival since the Little New Year. Everything needed to make offerings to the ancestors, entertain guests, and feed the family over the long holiday must be purchased in advance.
從小年開始，人們就要為春節置辦年貨了，包括給祖先的供品、招待客人的用品，還有過年期間一家人的吃食都要提前買好。
Before setting out to the market, a Spring Festival shopping list must be made, including items such as meat, poultry and eggs, fruit and vegetables, rice and flour, cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, and tea. Incense and candles, snacks, new calendars, and toys must also be purchased. Not to be forgotten are new clothes for children and firecrackers to welcome in the New Year.
在出發採購前，一定要列一份春節購物清單，包括肉禽蛋、果蔬、米麵、菸酒糖茶；還要買香、蠟燭、零食、日曆、玩具；給孩子們的新衣服和迎新年的鞭炮也不能忘。
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