by Kate McKee

Created on: February 15, 2010

It happens all around the world: at winter’s end, the spring cleaning bug bites. Drapes come down, windows are cleaned, even the upholstery and carpets get a thorough going over. And it’s not just homes: gardens, workplaces, cars and computers all benefit from a good spring clean.

 But where did it start? What are the cultural origins of spring cleaning? A little research quickly shows that there is no definitive answer to this question. Spring cleaning has been around for a very long time, and depending on which article you read, its origins lie in Persia, in an ancient Jewish tradition, in China, in Europe, or even in pre- historic times.

 Let’s have a look at each of these in a little more detail:

 The Persian new year (Nowruz) falls on the vernal equinox (usually March 21st) in the Iranian calendar. Traditionally, the period leading up to this date was a time for a big clean out of the house (the Iranians call it ‘Khouneh Tekouni’ or ‘shaking the house’). The clean out also extended to wardrobes, and it is the time of year when Iranians traditionally buy new clothes and bring flowers into their homes. The Nowruz spring cleaning tradition is still strong today.

 In other parts of the world, there is a link between spring cleaning and the observance of religious customs, most notably the ancient Jewish custom of cleansing the home before the Passover. In memory of the flight from Egypt, Jews are forbidden to eat any leavened bread during the Passover feast. In fact, they were traditionally required to rid their homes of all traces of leavened bread (chametz) before the feast began, and the spring cleaning which resulted was intended to clear out even the smallest crumbs of chametz in time for Passover.

 In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Great Lent is a forty day fasting and preparation period before the celebration of Easter. Great Lent commences with a ‘Clean Week’, where the faithful fast and partake in spiritual cleansing. They also traditionally do a big spring clean of their homes during this week, so that their physical surroundings will match their inner cleanliness.

 The Chinese people also have a claim on the origins of spring cleaning. They have an ancient tradition of cleaning their homes before the new year, which can begin any time between late January and mid February depending on the lunar cycle. They sweep all the floors to sweep out bad luck and misfortune,

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