Day 6, Clothes-washing Day (Feb. 6, 2024)

The Clothes-washing Day is on the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, four days before Spring Festival. This year, it falls on Feb. 6. People usually wash clothes, bedsheets, curtains and the like on this day. These activities symbolize washing away all the bad luck of the past year and welcoming in happiness and good luck for the coming year.

Day 5, Meat-preparing Day (Feb. 5, 2024)

The Meat-preparing Day is on the 26th day of the 12th lunar month, five days before Spring Festival. From this day, dishes for the sumptuous New Year's Eve feast are prepared in succession. 

In the past when food was scarce, poor families could only eat meat during Spring Festival. This evolved into a custom of either slaughtering livestock raised the past year, or buying meat at a street market or supermarket on the day. In 2024, the Meat-preparing Day falls on Feb. 5.

Day 4, Tofu-dish-making Day (Feb. 4, 2024)

Many families like to make tofu or tofu dishes on the 25th day of the 12th lunar month, six days before Spring Festival. The origin for this tradition comes from the "fu" in the word "tofu" having the same pronunciation as the Chinese character "福," which means blessings and happiness. 

Chinese people have a strong affection for auspiciousness during Spring Festival, so the pursuit of good luck is a constant theme throughout both the 12th and first lunar months of the year. In 2024, the Tofu-dish-making Day falls on Feb. 4.