问题标题：
【如何用英文简单的介绍“小年”】
问题描述：
如何用英文简单的介绍“小年”
孙红权回答：
LittleNewYear,whichfallsaboutaweekbeforethelunarNewYear,isalsoknownastheFestivaloftheKitchenGod,thedeitywhooverseesthemoralcharacterofeachhousehold.InoneofthemostdistinctivetraditionsofSpringFestival,apaperimageoftheKitchenGodisburntonLittleNewYear,dispatchingthegod'sspirittoHeaventoreportonthefamily'sconductoverthepastyear.
TheKitchenGodisthenwelcomedbackbypastinganewpaperimageofhimbesidethestove.Fromthisvantagepoint,theKitchenGodwilloverseeandprotectthehouseholdforanotheryear.ThecloseassociationoftheKitchenGodwiththeLunarNewYearhasresultedinKitchenGodFestivalbeingcalledLittleNewYear.AlthoughveryfewfamiliesstillmakeofferingstotheKitchenGodonthisday,manytraditionalholidayactivitiesarestillverypopular.
StudiesofpopularChinesereligionindicatethattheKitchenGoddidnotappearuntilaftertheinventionofthebrickcookingstove.Thecookingstovewasafairlylatedevelopmentinthehistoryofhumancivilization.AncientwritingsindicatethattheFireGod,theearliestformoftheKitchenGod,wasworshippedlongbeforethestovewasinvented.
ZhuRong,China'sancientFireGodwasapopularfolkdeityandhadmanytemplesbuiltinhishonor.Stonelinedfirepits,anearlyformofthebrickstove,arestillcommonlyusedamongChina'sethnicminorities.PeopleintheseregionsmakeofferingstotheFirepitGod.TheFirepitGodappearedbetweentheKitchenGodandtheFireGodinthehistoryofChinesefolkdeities.TheKitchenGodappearedsoonaftertheinventionofthebrickstove.TheKitchenGodwasoriginallybelievedtoresideinthestove,andonlylatertookonhumanform.
LegendhasitthatduringtheLaterHanDynasty,apoorfarmernamedYinZifangwasmakingbreakfastonedayshortlybeforetheLunarNewYear,whentheKitchenGodappearedtohim.AlthoughallYinZifanghadwasoneyellowsheep,hesacrificedittotheKitchenGod.YinZifangsoonbecamerich.Toshowhisgratitude,YinZifangstartedsacrificingayellowgoattotheKitchenGodeverywinteronthedayofthedivinevisitation,ratherthanduringthesummerashadbeencustomary.ThisistheoriginoftheKitchenGodFestival,orLittleNewYear.
TherearenumerouscustomsassociatedwithhonoringtheKitchenGodanddeterminingthedateoftheKitchenGodFestival,orLittleNewYear.Thedateofthisholidaywassometimesassignedaccordingtolocation,withpeopleinnorthernChinacelebratingitonthetwenty-thirddayofthetwelfthlunarmonth,andpeopleinsouthernChinacelebratingitonthetwenty-fourth.ThedateofLittleNewYearwasalsotraditionallydeterminedaccordingtoprofession.Traditionally,feudalofficialsmadetheirofferingstotheKitchenGodonthetwenty-third,thecommonpeopleonthetwenty-fourth,andcoastalfishingpeopleonthetwenty-fifth.Thepersonofficiatingatthesacrificialriteswasgenerallythemaleheadofthehousehold.
TheeveningbeforeLittleNewYear,theimageoftheKitchenGodthathasbeenoverseeingthehouseholdforthepastyearistakendownfromitspositionbythestove.Whiletheimageisdriedinpreparationforburning,offeringsandfirewoodareprepared.Thefirewoodmayincludebundlesofpine,cypress,holly,andpomegranatetwigs.AnewimageoftheKitchenGodispurchased,andfiguresofhorsesanddogsareplaitedoutofsorghumstalks.Theofferingsincludepig'sh
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