The origin of dust removal in Chinese New Year

Dust-sweeping originated in the Yao-Shun era and evolved from the ancient religious ceremony of expelling diseases.

There is a folk story about the origin of the Spring Festival cleaning: a year ago, the tenant farmers in Tongzhou were busy from beginning to end, and there was almost nothing left at home except paying the rent. Therefore, when they offered sacrifices to the Kitchen God, they begged the Kitchen God to say a few good words in front of the Jade Emperor when he was ordered to return to heaven on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, so that the Jade Emperor could be merciful and give them some food from the warehouse in the sky, so that they could have a big reunion dinner on New Year's Eve.

Therefore, in order to welcome the gift of the Jade Emperor, every year after the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the tenants should clean the inside and outside of the courtyard to show their respect for the gift of the Jade Emperor. In this way, year after year, the custom of spring festival cleaning has been passed down from generation to generation.

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Spring Festival cleaning became popular. Wu, a native of the Southern Song Dynasty, recorded in his Dream that in December, all ordinary people, big or small, would sweep the floor and clean their houses to pray for a peaceful New Year. Therefore, there is a saying among the people that "on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, dust sweeps the house".

Ethnicity

Dust removal, also known as dust removal, slag removal, dust removal and dust removal, is one of the traditional customs in China. Originated in ancient China, it is a religious ceremony to drive away epidemics. This ceremony later evolved into a year-end cleaning, which pinned the good wishes of the working people in China to ward off evil spirits and eliminate disasters and welcome good luck. China folk proverb says: On the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, clean the house.

The north is called cleaning the house and the south is called dust removal. Indoor and outdoor, in front of and behind the house, thoroughly clean up, wash clothes and household appliances, and greet the Spring Festival cleanly. Everyone is preparing for the Spring Festival. For example, before and after the sacrifice of the stove to New Year's Eve, there was a general cleaning, and the dust accumulated under the corner bed and the roof beam for a year. On this day, it was necessary to remove it with a broom and clean the metal handles on boxes and cabinets.