The folk saying goes: "butcher a pig and get some meat to prepare for the New Year feast" on the 26th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar.
中國有一句俗語：“殺豬割年肉。”農歷臘月二十六正是殺豬割年肉的日子。

In the old days, many people could not afford meat and they saved the best for the New Year feast. People's livelihoods have improved greatly and meat is now a very common dish in daily diet, but the Chinese still prefer having meat during festival season.
舊時許多人買不起肉，所以就把一年中最好的東西留到新年團圓飯吃。如今人們的生活質量得到了極大的改善，一日三餐里肉食已經再常見不過，但春節期間人們仍然鐘愛肉食。