China celebrates 'Little Spring Festival'

Calligraphers give Spring Festival scrolls to citizens at Dongyue Temple, Beijing.

About one thousand people enjoy dumpling feast in Daxing district, Beijing.

Thursday marks a traditional Chinese festival, called Xiao Nian, or "Little Spring Festival", which is celebrated on the 23rd day of the last lunar month.

According to Chinese tradition, Xiao Nian is a day for people to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God, clean their houses and eat melon-shaped candies. In Chinese legend, this god watches over people's actions and words in the kitchen. Then on Xiao Nian, he returns to heaven and reports back to the mighty Jade Emperor. By offering candies to the Kitchen God on Xiao Nian, people hope he will become sweet-lipped, and say more good things about their home, thus bringing good fortune to the family.

The tradition also requires people to clean their houses, and put up spring festival decorations. But over time, this tradition has faded. While it continues to be observed in certain areas, especially the countrysides of north China, Xiao Nian is mostly now seen as a prelude to the larger Spring Festival celebration.