Spring Cleaning: A Worldwide Tradition 🌍
Significance of Spring
The vernal equinox, or the beginning of spring, symbolizes the balance between light and darkness. It also signifies the triumph of new life, and the energy to “break through” the darkness, like a plant, breaking through the soil toward the sun 🌱☀️
Did you know across cultures worldwide, New Year’s is often associated with the vernal equinox? Places like Russia, South & Central Asia, Iran, Hindu & Hebrew cultures celebrate the New Year in spring due to its symbolism of rebirth and renewal of agriculture & nature.
Throughout history, spring has been celebrated as the new year also due to its connection with ancient astrology. March is the beginning of the astrological new year, which coincides with the vernal equinox. Aries is the representation of spring as it is the first sign in the zodiac. The Ram is associated with the “burst” or “spark” of life energy that spring carries, providing the initiative, courage and confidence to start new!
Spring Cleaning: A Worldwide Tradition
Cross culturally, spring represents renewal, rebirth, transformation and growth. Often associated with new beginnings, one way humans have marked this period throughout history is by celebrating spring cleaning.
Here are examples of spring cleaning traditions across cultures worldwide:
🌸Japan’s vernal equinox holiday, Shunbun no Hi, celebrates spring, nature, & ancestor appreciation. It is part of a seven-day period of festival called Haru no Higan. The holiday was originally a time to visit loved ones' grave sites and pay homage to their ancestors by leaving flowers, incense and cleaning their graves. The Japanese also take the time to renew their lives by cleaning their homes and making life changes such as starting a new hobby, finishing projects, or continuing education.
🌷In Germany, they have a practice entitled, "Frühjahrsputz," meaning “Thoroughness”. This is a German-style spring cleaning, involving a systematic approach to deep cleaning room by room to ensure that every nook & cranny of the house is free of winter build up. It's not uncommon for families to set aside an entire weekend for this task.
They focus on tasks not regularly cleaned such as:
- Interior and exterior windows
- Washing curtains & blinds
- Move heavy furniture to clean behind & under
- Wash walls & inside large appliances
Their thoroughness comes from taking on one room at a time, having a start point, creating a cleaning plan, and taking 5 minute breaks to disrupt overwhellm
🌱In Russia, “Subbotnik”, (usually taken the Saturday (Subbota) before Easter) is a day where volunteers clean streets, repair public areas and focus on community service. In addition, spring cleaning is a deeply rooted tradition throughout nearby cultures, involving thorough, top-to-bottom cleanings, including washing windows & beating carpets and rugs.
✨ Indigenous cultures celebrate the vernal equinox by smudging, or purifying their energy & homes with white sage and palo santo. By opening up windows and doors, “old” energy is swept out, making room for new, positive energy to take root. Spring is also the celebration of planting crops, such as corn, squash and beans.
The Nisga'a (formerly spelled Nishga or Niska,) are an Indigenous people in British Columbia, Canada that partake in their yearly spring Hobiyee celebration, where big box drums are played to symbolize Mother Earth’s heartbeat, dancers and singers all move in unison to pay homage to our united home. Cultures like the Nisga’a remind us of how we can move into a reciprocal relationship with our earth, rather than exploit it.
These are just a few examples of traditions that have been carried down through the generations crossculturally. Each with an emphasis on the power of cleansed spaces and how we experience them individually, within families, and in our communities.
The Importance of Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning, cleansing and purifying doesn’t stop at your home, it expands throughout all layers of our wellbeing. Spring is a designated and established time of the year where people feel empowered to make positive changes to their environment by deep cleaning, cleansing, and tending to tasks that are regularly ignored. It is also a time to connect with ourselves, family and our community.
Spring cleaning is about so much more than just looks. It’s been shown that clean spaces improve our mood by reducing cortisol levels, meaning less stress! Less stress means improved mental clarity. With improved mental clarity we have more energy and focus for the things that matter to us. Cleaning and clean spaces also offer a multitude of physical health benefits such as:
-cardiovascular health that comes from movement🏃
-breathe easier by eliminating dust & allergens 🫁
-trust in the health of you and your family by removing germs & bacteria 🦠
-improved sleep quality 😴
Spring cleaning is also symbolic for our inner world. We can make intentions or resolutions that aid our growth, while we remove or release what is stale and stagnant. Intentions help align us with the energy of spring by reminding us to put energy into what we desire to help grow, rather than focusing on what is not needed anymore. Intentions can be a powerful tool to keep our attention on what matters most to us, so that when our thoughts drift to what is not helpful, we can call back to our intention to realign.
Spring Cleaning - for You & Your Family
Ready to carry on a new spring cleaning tradition without devoting a week of your life to making your home sparkle? Let Dee’s Green Cleaning professional cleaning service help you with your home cleaning or office cleaning needs ✨ with attention to detail, exceptional professionalism, and green products, we’d love to help your home sparkle. If you’re ready for:
-less stress
-saved time & energy
-that feel-good feeling that comes from regular cleaning
Request a quote for a deep cleaning by clicking below 👇