Chinese Culture -- Off-year

小年(xiǎo nián) = off-year 

小年(xiǎo nián),腊(là)月(yuè)二(èr)十(shí)三(sān) 
off-year, on January 23 this year. 小年(xiǎo nián) falls on the 23rd day of the last month of lunar calendar. 

小(xiǎo)年(nián)为(wéi)中(zhōng)国(guó)传(chuán)统(tǒng)的(de)节(jié)日(rì)，它(tā)是(shì)中(zhōng)国(guó)春(chūn)节(jié)活(huó)动(dòng)的(de)开(kāi)始(shǐ)。除(chú)了(le)祭(jì)灶(zào)仪(yí)式(shì)外(wài)，中(zhōng)国(guó)各(gè)地(dì)过(guò)小(xiǎo)年(nián)有(yǒu)许(xǔ)多(duō)不(bù)同(tóng)的(de)风(fēng)俗(sú)，如(rú)扫(sǎo)尘(chén)、贴(tiē)对(duì)联(lián)、剪(jiǎn)窗(chuāng)花(huā)、吃(chī)饺(jiǎo)子(zi)，粘(zhān)糖(táng)瓜(guā)，洗(xǐ)浴(yù)婚(hūn)嫁(jià)等(děng)。可(kě)以(yǐ)说(shuō)“小(xiǎo)年(nián)”是(shì)“大(dà)年(nián)”春(chūn)节(jié)的(de)开(kāi)始(shǐ)。

Literally off-year (小年) means “small year”， comparing to Spring Festival， "big year" (大年). Starting on December 23, There are many of the customs in addition to people ceremony in off-year， such as Spring dust, stick couplets, cut window, bath and hair, eating dumplings, and marriage held，etc. It can be said that off-year is the prelude of the Spring Festival. This time is known as "early spring day （迎春日）" by the folk people.