Are you sitting in your apartment? Is your apartment clean? If not, this may motivate you to do something about it.
People all across the globe clean in unique ways and with different motivations to do so. Below is a breakdown of some of the most interesting cleaning traditions from around the world.
Germany
In Germany, the term Kehrwoche — which translates to “week of sweeping” — refers to a communal cleaning process for those that live in apartment blocks. Cleaning tasks throughout the week are doled out to residents and are not limited to sweeping. Tasks can include mowing grassy areas, decluttering, cleaning windows and more.
Obviously, these chores are not just a once-a-week thing. Kehrwhoche refers more to weekly communal cleaning efforts carried out by the residents of apartment buildings. It’s a duty to oneself and one’s neighbors to keep the community clean.
Japan
Just before the beginning of the new year, many Japanese people deep clean their homes. This intensive cleanse, known as “osouji,” cleanses the home and purifies the residence in order to welcome Toshigami.
Toshigami is the kami, or Shinto deity, of the New Year.
Panama
On New Year’s Eve, it’s a Panamanian tradition to crack open all the windows and sage your house. People practice this process all around the globe, including in traditional Native American Culture, and is thought to remove all bad vibes and malicious energy.
Part of the saging process is to declutter and clean your house thoroughly beforehand. It’s all about leaving the past year behind and starting the New Year with fresh positivity.
If you want to sage your house in the Panamanian way, walk around your to all the rooms and use a feather or your hand to move the smoke — which collects the bad energy — out of the house. Remember, this is not cooking sage. Look for smudge white sage and you’ll be all set!
China
In the Cantonese tradition, many families deep clean their household on December 28. This is a symbolic washing away of the dirt from the previous 12 months to start anew. Families accomplish their goal of a thoroughly clean home through a rigorous process including sweeping, tidying up the outside and entranceway and fixing any broken items. This process is another great example of a clean residence being considered akin to a fresh start or clean slate for the new year.
Iran
Nowruz is the Persian-language term for the Iranian New Year. Many Iranian people celebrate Nowruz on the first day of spring, which typically falls between March 19–22. Traditional thought is that the spirits of deceased family members visit the homes of past loved ones on this day.
In preparation for their paranormal visitors, many Iranian families embark on the process of Khane-Tekani. This literally translates to “house shaking,” which is an all-encompassing cleansing of the house. The next step is filling the home with fresh hyacinth and narcissus flowers and burning esfand incense to create a welcoming environment for all guests, living and dead.
Guatemala
On December 7, many Guatemalans celebrate Quema Del Diablo, which translates to “Burning the Devil.” This celebration is rooted in the Catholic tradition but it’s celebrated by most families in Guatemala, regardless of religion.
Originally, the celebration involved families bringing their trash out into the street and burning it. Because burning trash is not a particularly safe practice for people and the environment, the tradition has evolved.
Today, many Guatemalan families celebrate Quema Del Diablo by banding together to empty their homes of all their waste, clean thoroughly and ready their residences for a busy Christmas season.
Thailand
Songkran is the national holiday of Thai New Year. This celebration takes place in mid-April and lasts three days. A major part of Songkran involves people soaking each other with water in the streets. This is a cleansing for the people and city to kick off the new year right.
In Bangkok, practically the entire city (roughly 10.72 million people) takes part in this celebratory water war. While each Thai region celebrates Songkran in their own way, many families clean their homes thoroughly, launder all of their items and wipe down all of the surfaces around their homes in addition to the more fun festivities.
Sweden
One of the more interesting and popular cleaning traditions from around the world is Swedish death cleaning. In practical terms, Swedish death cleaning is the process of organizing and decluttering your home. The specific goal is to get rid of any insignificant objects in order to make it easier for your family to handle your things once you pass.
Swedish death cleaning is often done by the elderly or terminally ill, however, it is a process that falls in line with other cleaning methodologies from around the world. As such, anyone can do it. If you think about it, it’s never a bad time to cut the unessential and underused items out of your life.
Start cleaning
When it comes down to it, renting an apartment or house is a major life milestone. It will do you well to take care of the place you live in. Centuries of evidence tell us this. People all over the world have been cleaning to provide comfort, peace of mind and the feeling of a fresh start for hundreds of years. So, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, anxious or just in need of a change, try cleaning your apartment. You just might find that it helps. And, if it doesn’t, at least you have a clean apartment now.
Source: rent.com