2021 Spring Home and Garden

2021 Spring Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 22, 2021 Page 9 CONTINUED u S pring is full of hope! It brings warmth from the cold, light for longer days, bursts of color from the grey winter, new life in the barnyards, and a confidence that life on earth can be renewed. Many embrace the promise of renewal and take the time to refresh their homes with spring cleaning. Historically, spring cleaning was a response to being shut in for the winter. It was necessary to clean because of the soot and grime left from the fireplace. Spring cleaning allowed homeowners to bring the spring inside with fresh cleaned ceilings, floors, fireplaces, windows, bedding, and curtains. When did ‘spring cleaning’ become a thing? The commemoration of the freeing of Jews from slavery, the Passover, is observed in March or April and is started with a cleaning of the home to remove yeast or yeast bread. Egyptian slaves survived on unleavened bread so eating food with yeast is unallowable to the Jewish diet. It is traditional to clean the house thoroughly before or during the Great Lent, also known as Clean Week, which corresponds to the Persian New Year on the first day of spring. This tradition dates to more than 3,000 years B.C. To the Chinese, “dust” means “old,” so a year-end cleaning is necessary to force out old things and get ready for a fresh start. This spring housecleaning called “Little New Year,” was intended to get out any negativity and lingering spirits. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church cleaned the church altar on the day before Good Friday. Catholic church members clean Do spring cleaning the extreme way!