Northern off-year customs

In the north, off-year festivals are held on this day. Besides eating candy, fire is also a special seasonal food. In the past, on this day, the business of biscuit stalls in the city was very prosperous.

There is no custom of eating fire in southern off-year.

Second, eat honeydew melon, caramel and sesame candy.

Melon, caramel, sesame sugar, etc. in the north. Originally for the mouth of the kitchen god, it gradually evolved into a snack that children must eat in their early years. There is a saying in the northwest of Shanxi that "you can't chew your fingers with sesame candy."

There is no custom of eating honeydew melon, caramel and sesame candy in the south.

Third, stick grilles.

Stick grilles is a popular folk activity in the north. Generally, there are patterns of window grilles, such as magpies climbing plum blossoms, peacocks beating peonies, lions rolling hydrangeas, three sheep (yang) opening Thailand, two dragons playing with pearls, Yuanyang playing with water and so on. Hanging window grilles means that the new year is getting better and better.

There is usually no custom of stick grilles in the off-year in the south.