Why isn't the southern off-year and the northern off-year the same day?
The 23rd of the twelfth lunar month is a festival in northern China, and the 24th of the twelfth lunar month is a festival in southern China. So what's the difference between a small year in the north and a small year in the south? Why is there a day difference between the south and the north? Use the old calendar book to have a look!
The difference between the northern off-year and the southern off-year
What day is off-year day?
Off-year is a traditional festival of Han nationality in China, also known as Xie Zao, Zao Zao Festival, Zao Wang Festival and Zao Zao Festival. The date is different in different places, on the 23rd or 24th or 25th of the twelfth lunar month. Folklore experts also pointed out that there was a tradition of "three officials, three people, four boats and five people" in ancient times, that is to say, the official's off-year was the 23rd lunar month, the people's home was the 24th lunar month, and the houseboat was the 25th lunar month.
Northern China was the political center before the Southern Song Dynasty, which was greatly influenced by bureaucracy, so the off-year was mostly the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. On the contrary, the south is far from the political center, and the off-year is the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. Residents along the lake, such as Poyang Lake, keep the tradition of boating, and the next year is set on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month. Besides, in some areas of China, such as Sichuan and Guizhou, the 30th of the twelfth lunar month is regarded as a small year, and the 15th of the first month is a big year. In some areas of Shandong, off-year is the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, which is regarded as the beginning of the New Year in China.
Of course, no matter when and where the Chinese New Year is celebrated, the desire of the Han people to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new is the same.
The difference between the northern off-year and the southern off-year
Why is there a difference between the north and the south in off-year years?
The different dates between north and south are related to the tradition of "three officials, three people, four boats and five" in ancient China. In ancient times, there was a saying of "three officials, four people, four boats and five people", that is, the official twelfth lunar month was off-year, the people's twelfth lunar month was off-year, and the house boat was off-year. The origin of this statement is unknown, but it is speculated that in ancient China, people had a strong sense of hierarchy, so they were divided into different status and professional reasons.
Why is there a day difference between the north and the south?
Because the northern part of China has long been the political center of the country and is greatly influenced by bureaucracy, the off-year is mostly the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. On the contrary, the south is far from the political center, and the off-year is the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. The southern water system is developed, and there are many residents and boatmen along the lake. Their next year is on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month. Of course, northern boatmen do not follow the custom of "rowing on the fifth", and most of them still celebrate the New Year on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.
Judging from the current situation, the off-year holidays on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month are mainly in the northeast and north, and there are more off-year holidays on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month.