By decluttering and deep-cleaning, you remove stagnant energy and make room for positive chi (energy) to flow freely throughout your home. According to Feng Shui, a clutter-free, clean space enhances your well-being and attracts good fortune for the year ahead. How to spring clean for Chinese New Year: A step-by-step guide 1. Declutter with purpose Wong adds that many Chinese traditions around the new year, like cleaning or eating sweets, are all about setting the mood for the year ahead. “A lot of it feels about intent. [Eating] sweet treats in the morning not only signals a new change for the new year, but it’s about bringing in only sweet moments in life. Since Chinese New Year begins with a large reunion meal (tuan nian fan) to gather family at home the night before, it is traditional to start the year off with a clean house. Similar to many Chinese traditions, the act of cleaning is also based on a play on words, where there are similarities between the mandarin word for “dust” and “old”. Cleaning the house is a long-observed Chinese New Year tradition. The ground, the walls, and every corner of the house need to be cleaned. In Chinese, “Dust” is a homophone for the word “Chen", meaning the old. Therefore a year-end cleaning is needed to drive the old things or the bad luck away from the house, and get ready for a new start. Clean up to prepare for the new year. E ach year is seen as a fresh, new beginning, so starting it off with a clean house is important. “It is believed that house cleaning should be done before Wong adds that many Chinese traditions around the new year, like cleaning or eating sweets, are all about setting the mood for the year ahead. "A lot of it feels about intent. For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, wishing to cut away last year’s bad luck and walk out with a clean, shiny slate. 25 Unique Traditions Around the World. House cleaning for Chinese New Year is an important tradition. People clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and negativity from the past year, making space for a fresh start. The word ‘dust’ in Chinese is a homophone for ‘old’, so cleaning is seen as a way to get rid of the old and make room for new blessings. Chinese new Year Cleaning. Clean the house BEFORE Chinese New Year—not on Chinese New Year’s Day. It’s time to clean out all the bad juju from the past year and start off with a clean slate. That means a DEEP CLEAN. Dusting is very important. Get rid of all the cobwebs and crust of the previous year that might hold you back in the year ahead! As the vibrant tapestry of the Chinese New Year unfolds, one tradition takes centre stage in the prelude to the grand celebration – 小年扫尘, or "Little New Year's Dust Sweeping." This time-honoured custom is more than just a simple act of cleaning; it holds deep cultural significance as it symbolizes bidding farewell to the old year and Spring cleaning is a cherished Chinese New Year tradition, symbolising the removal of bad luck from the past year and making way for a fresh beginning. It involves a deep clean of the home and its surroundings, ensuring everything is spotless before the new year arrives. Wong adds that many Chinese traditions around the new year, like cleaning or eating sweets, are all about setting the mood for the year ahead. "A lot of it feels about intent. Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. Chinese tradition and superstition dictate that homes be clean before the start of the new year, ridding the house of the bad luck and misfortune of the past, and opening up spaces for all the new, good luck to enter and infuse your life. After the New Year's Day, people will buy new paint of the food god and display it in the kitchen. Cleaning. A few days before the Chinese New Year, people will do a complete cleaning of the house and house wares which signifies to remove the old and welcome the new. The “no cleaning” rule during CNY. In Chinese tradition, cleaning during the new year is believed to sweep away wealth and good fortune. Even taking out the garbage is seen as tossing out prosperity from the home. So, yes – this gives you the perfect excuse to put off housework until after Chinese New Year. Let the tradition work in your There are more Chinese New Year traditions and customs, such as wearing new clothes, staying up late on Chinese New Year's Eve, watching the Spring Festival Gala, etc. How Long Is Chinese New Year Celebrations? Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. The Chinese people believe that, as the Spring Festival is the start of a new year, what you do then will affect your luck in the coming year. There are many Chinese New Year traditions about dos and don'ts. Find out the top 18 things you should not do. Chinese New Year is one of China's traditional festivals with a history of over 1000 years. Throughout its evolution, it has developed many customs. Most of the traditions we see today have been passed down from the past. Read the top 15 Chinese New Year Traditional activities below: Chinese New Year traditions 1. House Cleaning This time-honoured custom is more than just a simple act of cleaning; it holds deep cultural significance as it symbolizes bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the freshness of the new. What is the new year's cleaning rule? 小年, or Little New Year, falls about a week before the Lunar New Year festivities begin.
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