小年 Little New Year/Minor New Year

6. Preparations for Spring Festival 

办年货

File photo shows people do special purchases for the Spring Festival. [Photo by Liu Mingxiang/Asianewsphoto]

People start to stock up necessary provisions for the Spring Festival since the Little New Year. Everything needed to make offerings to the ancestors, entertain guests, and feed the family over the long holiday must be purchased in advance. 
从小年开始，人们就要为过年置办了，包括给祖先的贡品、招待客人的用品，还有过年期间一家人的吃食都要提前买好。