Chinese Traditions while Moving into a New Home
There are several traditions in Chinese culture that can be performed for different occasions. However, one of the most crucial times to carry out these rituals is right after you’ve moved into a new house.
Moving into a new home is a significant event that signifies new beginnings and gives homeowners the chance to usher in prosperity and good fortune.
You will see a lot of people rushing to moving into their new home before the festive period such as Chinese New Year.
While many people host a housewarming party or have a nice meal with family in their new neighbourhood to mark the occasion, Chinese customs for moving into a new home call for some very special and specific practices. Superstitious? Yes. Fun, for sure!
Would you turn down a chance to increase your wealth if you had just purchased a new home? Here are 8 Chinese traditions for moving into a new home. Huat ah!
1. Roll a pineapple around your house while reciting auspicious phrases
The tradition of bringing a pineapple to a new home comes from the Cantonese term for pineapples, Wong Lei, which also sounds like “coming prosperity” (旺来) in the same dialect.
You can start the ball (or, should we say, pineapple?) rolling it from the front door to the bedrooms while saying auspicious Chinese proverbs like “吉祥如意” (good fortune in accordance with your wishes) or “开门大吉” (good luck enter).
Once you’re done, DON’T throw the pineapple away. Keep it around for a bit instead to let the luck continue.
2. Have every member of your family bring in some fresh fruit
Fruits other than pineapples can also be brought into your new house to bring luck. You should ask your family to hold onto an orange, pomegranate, peach, or apple as they approach the front door when they visit your house for the first time because each of these fruits has a positive meaning.
Here is what each one stands for:
Oranges: Prosperity
Pomegranates: Opportunity
Peaches: Health
Apples: Safety
If you don’t have any of these fruits on hand, you can represent bringing great wealth within by keeping money or jewellery in your possession. Just make sure you don’t enter empty-handed.
3. Open all the doors and windows in your house
Open all the windows and doors in your home after you’ve placed the fruits inside.
Opening all the doors and windows of your new place is one of the customs that come after bringing in auspicious items in accordance with Chinese rituals for moving into a new home, which heavily emphasize the “yang” energy.
In addition to bringing sunshine and fresh air inside, this practice enables the home’s “qi,” or good yang energy, to regenerate and circulate.
4. Turn on all the appliances and leave the taps running
In accordance with Chinese beliefs, keeping the electricity and water on indicates a continuous flow of prosperity into your home. Turning on all the taps and/or appliances is a certain way to ensure that everything in your home is operating as intended. Having said that, don’t forget to turn them off when finished!
5. Light up the kitchen stove and boil a kettle of water
In Chinese culture, igniting the stove and bringing a kettle of water to a boil symbolizes bringing warmth and good fortune into your home.
Additionally, it is advised to make tea with the hot water thereafter and serve it to loved ones and guests to further create a pleasant environment at home!
6. Scatter a mixture of raw rice, green beans, salt, and tea leaves
Scatter a mixture of raw rice, green beans, salt, and tea leaves around your new home, following the natural flow of your home, to bless every inch of it.
Start by scattering the mixture in the living room or doorway. After that, move on to your bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, and other living areas. It is said that by doing this, you will drive away evil and sow the seeds of success within your home.
7. Place flowers, sweets, and red packets around the house
Placing luck-enhancing symbols all over your home after moving in is thought to boost wealth luck, just like during Chinese New Year.
Displaying lucky objects like flowers and sweets may “sweeten” the ambiance in your home, and keeping a few ang pow (red packets) in your built-ins, especially in the safes and cupboards where you keep your valuables, is thought to bring luck.
8. Cook a meal and eat it with friends and family
What could be more important than spending time with your friends and family over a home-cooked supper to wrap up the major move?
It’s crucial to remember that sharing food at the same table shows that everyone is happy in their new house and symbolizes equal sharing of wealth.
Welcome to your New House!
Moving into a new home usually sounds stressful, but with these unique traditions, it can be a lot of fun, especially when done with friends and family.
But don’t hesitate to contact Move Move Movers if you want to avoid the hassle of moving in and dive right into the enjoyable stuff! Our experienced movers will ensure that your belongings arrive at your new home quickly, allowing you to use your moving-in energy to draw in all that lucky yang energy. Happy moving!
By Move Move Movers
