中英双语：小年到正月十五的春节习俗(4)

农历腊月二十三日是小年，也是祭灶节。灶神在中国神话传说中监管一家善恶。
People make sacrificesto the Kitchen Gold on this day. A paper image is burnt dispatching the god"sspirit to Heaven to report on the family"s conduct over the past year. TheKitchen God is then welcomed back by pasting a new paper image of him besidethe stove.
人们在小年这一天祭拜灶神，焚烧灶神的画像，意味着送灶神上天，禀报这家人在过去一年的德行。接着人们会在灶旁贴上新的画像，意味着再把灶神接回来。
腊月二十四：扫舍去尘
Families undertakethorough house cleaning on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Lunarcalendar, sweeping out the old in preparation for the coming year.
农历腊月二十四日，各家各户会进行大扫除扫舍去尘，预示着除旧迎新。
According totradition, ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stayon Earth during the last month of the year. It is believed that to ensure theghosts and deities" timely departure, people must thoroughly clean both theirbodies and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.
根据传统，各路鬼神在农历腊月必须决定自己是返回天庭还是继续留在人间。据说为了确保鬼神及时启程离开，人们必须彻底地沐浴干净、清理住处，哪怕是抽屉柜子也不能疏忽。
腊月二十五：推磨做豆腐