每年農曆臘月二十三日,是我國傳統的“小除夕”,俗稱“小年”。以往民間流傳,這天夜里“一家之主”的竈神(即竈王爺),要回天宮向玉皇大帝“汇報”一年來的情况。因此,臨行前家家戶戶都忙着為他送行,除了辦置香燭等供品外,還得將“竈糖”擺在供桌上,據說這就能讓竈王爺吃得甜甜蜜蜜,甚至嘴也給粘上了,使他在玉皇大帝面前不至說各家的壞話,而多言“好事”。民間既有祭“竈”的習俗,皇家也並不例外。據說清朝從順治八年開始,就由內務府負責安排祭“竈”活動。大致從雍正年間開始,每年臘月二十三日於坤寧宮東橱設“竈神”,並行三叩的禮節,其後一直延續到清 On the 23rd of the lunar calendar every year, it is the traditional “New Year’s Eve” in our country, commonly known as the “Little Year.” In the past, folk circulated that this night, “the Lord of the Lord,” the kitchen god (ie stove Royal Highness), to the Temple of Heaven to the Jade Emperor “report” over the past year. Therefore, before leaving every household is busy for his demeanor, in addition to offering incense and other products, have to “stove sugar” placed on the table, it is said that this will allow the stove to eat sweet and pride, and even the mouth to Glued, so that he can not say in front of the Jade Emperor the bad things, but more “good things.” Both folk custom “kitchen” customs, the Royal is no exception. It is said that the Qing Dynasty Shunzhi eight years from the beginning, it is responsible for arranging the festival by the Imperial Household “stove” activities. Generally from the beginning of the Yongzheng year, every year on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month in Kunming Palace East cabinet set up “kitchen god”, in parallel with three knocking of the etiquette, and thereafter until the clear