La Yue Customs (Lunar 12 Month Customs) – Spring Cleaning (農曆臘月習俗之清屯掃除)

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For Chinese Custom, only after the 25th Day of Lunar 12 Month, then Spring Cleaning can start.

In Chinese, Spring Cleaning is known as Qing Tun (清屯) or Sao Chu (掃除), meaning cleaning up the store or sweeping off the dirt that accumulated for the year (another explanation is, sweeping off all bad lucks and waiting for new good luck to be blessed).

In the Ancient Era, after 25th Day, the Chinese or Taoists will choose a good day between 26th Day to the Eve Day. Once the date is chosen, necessary preparation will be made (such as getting the cleaning stuffs, paints, etc).

Usually the cleaning will start in the early morning before Sun-rise and must complete before the Sun-set (in-order to respect the Wandering Souls & Deities that stayed in around in the Home).

After the cleaning up of the Store-area, the Chinese or Taoists will make some simple offerings to the Souls or Deities in the Store-area, this is to show the gratitude to them for the tolerating of the cleaning, etc.

Once the cleaning of the whole house is completed. The Chinese or Taoists will start to do decoration for the home in-order to usher in the New Year.