[00:00.00]腊月二十三 The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month,@
[00:01.00]又叫小年 also known as "Little New Year," @
[00:04.00]天津人都知道 is well-known among Tianjin residents. @
[00:07.00]小年主要的要祭灶 On this day, people primarily conduct the Kitchen God Festival,@
[00:10.00]是灶王爷上天的日子 which is the day when the Kitchen God ascends to heaven. @
[00:14.00]过去的灶王爷可不简单 Traditionally, the Kitchen God is a significant figure,@
[00:18.00]灶王爷是一家之主 as he is considered the master of the household.@
[00:21.00]他是这家的主人呐@
[00:24.00]大事小情都靠灶王爷关照 He oversees all major and minor matters of the family throughout the year. @
[00:30.00]一年到头@
[00:32.00]二十三这天 灶王爷上天了@
[00:37.00]他干嘛去了@
[00:39.00]上天汇报去了 On the 23rd, the Kitchen God ascends to heaven to report on the family's activities @
[00:42.00]汇报这家一年所作所为@
[00:46.00]这家的情况 and overall situation over the past year.@
[00:49.00]再看情形 Looking at the situation,@
[00:50.00]再下来那就要到三十了 as it progresses towards the 30th,@
[00:56.00]现在祭灶的人少了 fewer people perform the Kitchen God ritual now,@
[01:00.00]但老人还祭灶 though older generations still do. @
[01:03.00]现在没有灶了@
[01:05.00]怎么办@
[01:06.00]那就单独给灶王爷搁一地 f there isn't a kitchen stove, they place offerings in a designated spot for the Kitchen God.@
[01:10.00]上上供@
[01:12.00]除了上供以外@
[01:14.00]还要摆一些黄豆 水 I Besides offering food, they also place some soybeans, water, @
[01:18.00]还搁点草 and a bit of straw.@
[01:21.00]搁草那是干嘛呢 The straw is meant to symbolize the horse that the Kitchen God rides to heaven,@
[01:24.00]说是灶王爷上天骑的是一个神马@
[01:29.00]吃的草啊@
[01:30.00]跑的快@
[01:32.00]让神马路上跑快点的意思 as it's said to help the horse travel faster on its journey.@
[01:37.00]另外两个供食也特别重要 Two other offerings are also very important: @
[01:41.00]一个是拔龙糖@
[01:43.00]一个是糖瓜 "pulling sugar" and "sugar melon." @
[01:46.00]这俩东西都是麦芽糖做的 Both are made from malt syrup@
[01:50.00]吃过的都知道@
[01:53.00]一吃它粘牙好粘嘴 and are known for their stickiness.@
[01:58.00]在上宫以前啊 Before the Kitchen God ascends to heaven, @
[02:00.00]拿这个糖瓜给灶王爷啊@
[02:04.00]抹一下嘴@
[02:06.00]让灶王爷嘴甜 people use this sugar melon to brush his mouth, ensuring it is sweet.@
[02:09.00]上天多说好话 This is meant to make the Kitchen God speak favorably when he reports to heaven.@
[02:12.00]然后降吉祥 this will bring good fortune and blessings.@
[02:15.00]所以用糖瓜儿来祭灶 So using sugar melon for the Kitchen God ritual@
[02:18.00]是延续下来的一个习俗 is a tradition that has been passed down. @
[02:22.00]再有的习俗呢 Another custom starts on the 23rd,@
[02:24.00]二十三开始上全盒了 often referred to as "the whole box" .@
[02:29.00]所有的货品都上街开始买 when people begin to buy goods for the New Year,@
[02:36.00]又叫上全盒@
[02:39.00]除了家里要祭灶王爷以外 Besides offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, @
[02:42.00]还要买一些年货 people also purchase various New Year items, @
[02:45.00]生食 熟食 都得搁得住啊 both raw and cooked, to prepare for the celebrations.@
[02:50.00]年前人们都比较忙碌 Before the New Year, people are busy @
[02:53.00]收拾房子@
[02:54.00]换对联@
[02:56.00]开始屋里布置 cleaning their homes, changing couplets, and decorating.@
[03:00.00]年二十三 吃嘛呢 On the 23rd,@
[03:03.00]吃啊 那没有特别的讲究 there are no specific food requirements,@
[03:07.00]一般天津人啊@
[03:09.00]在家里这天要吃饺子 but generally, people in Tianjin eat dumplings at home.
