Next: 30 Jan 2027
Little New Year
The kitchen god's farewell: sticky sweets are offered so he will say sweet things to heaven.
When is Little New Year in 2027?
Little New Year 2027 is on Saturday, 30 January 2027. Other years: 2026, Tuesday, 10 February 2026; 2028, Wednesday, 19 January 2028.
About Little New Year
Xiaonian, the "Little Year", is held in the last month of the lunar calendar, on the 23rd day in the north and the 24th in the south, a week before the new year. It is the day on which the Kitchen God, who has watched the family all year from his picture above the stove, goes up to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor. To sweeten his words, families offer him sticky sweets or malt sugar, and some smear a little on his lips. Afterwards, the old picture is burned and sent on its way with firecrackers. Houses are cleaned from top to bottom and the New Year preparations begin in earnest, with shopping, haircuts, and the writing of red couplets. Fresh pictures are put up on the new year's eve.
Little New Year dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Little New Year date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 10 February 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, 30 January 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 19 January 2028 |
What is eaten
- tanggua
- malt candy
Traditions of Little New Year
Also part of it, and being written: Kitchen God (The household deity who reports on the family.), Spring couplets (The red paper verses for the door.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kitchen God" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Chinese New Year's Eve: Mickey Đại Phát, CC BY-SA 4.0, source