In China, Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) is the most important holiday, and people prepare for it thoroughly. This year, the Year of the Tiger starts on February 1, but the week of January 23–30 is nearly as significant as the holiday itself. During this time, families clean their homes to remove not only dust but also bad luck and negative energy. It’s the busiest time for cleaning, shopping for food, clothes, and gifts, and decorating homes inside and out.
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How do the Chinese prepare for the holiday?
More Than Just an Everyday Clean-Up
Cleaning during this period goes beyond the usual tidying up. Must-clean items include curtains, bedding, and clothes. The kitchen and bathroom, considered the most challenging rooms to clean, require special attention. Every corner is swept to remove dust, bad luck, and misfortune, making space for new blessings in the year ahead. Floors, windows, doors, cutlery, and other essentials are washed thoroughly. It’s also important to take out the trash and clear out anything unnecessary.
Sweeping Rules
In Chinese tradition, some people use bamboo leaves to sweep, as they are believed to drive out evil spirits. During the New Year, sweeping inside the house is avoided, especially in the first three days, to prevent sweeping away good luck. Some families even hide brooms and dustpans! If sweeping is absolutely necessary, gather dust into a corner to keep new luck in the house.
Self-Care
A visit to the hairdresser symbolizes a fresh start. On New Year’s Eve, taking a bath with pomelo leaves is customary, as the fruit symbolizes abundance, fertility, and good health. However, avoid washing your hair during the first three days of the holiday to avoid “washing away” your luck.
Home Decor
New Year signs with good wishes and spring greetings are often posted in pairs or couplets. Red squares with gold letters meaning “happiness,” “harmony,” or “prosperity” are traditionally glued to doors. These signs are hung upside down because, in Chinese, the word for “upside down” sounds like the word for “arrived.” When people say “your happiness is upside down,” it means “happiness has already arrived.”
Scaring Away Evil Spirits
The color red is believed to scare away an ancient dragon that, according to legend, would eat animals and people. Peachwood amulets, also thought to ward off evil spirits, are often hung on doors.
