Old wives’ wisdom: the joy of Pesach cleaning

DEBORAH STONE explores the uncanny insights of a Jewish domestic tradition.

Some say Jews invented spring cleaning. The energy we put into preparing our homes for Pesach prompted our neighbours to make a similar effort to wipe away the dust and grime of winter, and thus the tradition of a massive annual cleaning frenzy was born.

Like many such origin tales, this one is on shaky ground. Spring cleaning traditions exist in many cultures. Iranians practice “khooneh tekouni”, or “shaking the house” prior to the Persian new year Norouz, which begins on the vernal equinox (usually March in the northern hemisphere). 

Chinese Buddhists and Taoists clean and freshen homes and altars prior to the Chinese New Year, which marks the end of winter and the first intimations of spring.

In the Catholic Church, the church altar is cleaned on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, and in the Greek Orthodox tradition “Clean Week” is held at the beginning of Great Lent, seven weeks before the spring celebrations of Easter.

The promotional culture of the US has got in on the act, declaring, the fourth Sunday in March the beginning of National Cleaning Week, designed to raise awareness of the importance of cleanliness for public health and honour frontline cleaning workers.

Even animals and birds clean out burrows and rebuild nests in preparation for the new life of spring.

There are also sound biological and practical reasons for cleaning in spring. Mud is no longer being tracked into houses, the dirt and soot of fires can be wiped away, it is warm enough to air the house and not so hot that the summer threats of dust and insects have begun. The increase of sunlight that comes with spring lifts melatonin levels, giving us energy to take on extra work and illuminating the dust and cobwebs that have gathered in the corners in the dark season.