Annual cleanup on 28th day of the final month in the lunar calendar 年廿八, 洗邋遢

Posted on by Patrick Siu

The 28th day of the final month in the lunar calendar is a very special day. It is the tradition of Hong Kong, Macau and places in southern Guangdong to have an annual clean-up. In 2023, it falls on 19 January (Thursday).

This annual clean-up was illustrated and recorded in the nianhua (年畫) of the 19th Century.

28th Day (2).jpg

Renewing the Peachwood Board (桃符換彩)

28th Day.jpeg

The woman is cleaning some ornamental pieces.The woman is cleaning some ornamental pieces.

The Peachwood Board Change Colour (桃符換彩) (3)
After the annual clean up finishes, the red sticker (揮春) is pasted onto the wall.

The two scripts Hóng xǐ (鴻禧) means Happy New Year.

Nianhua (年畫) CNY paintings

Posted on by Patrick Siu
(榴開百年)

For many centuries the Chinese people have decorated their homes during the Chinese New Year (CNY) with brightly-coloured pictures printed on paper by woodblock painting.  I have published 2 pages on nianhua about religious pictures and symbols of good luck.  Please have a look.  May I wish you a happy and prosperous Year of the Sheep!

Five Kinds of Happiness Fly Out of a Vase (瓶出五福)
Five Kinds of Happiness Fly Out of a Vase (瓶出五福)

 

子孫萬代
Sons and Grandsons – Ten Thousand Generations (子孫萬代)