The Years End Big Cleaning (大掃除）

In the west, at the start of spring is the time to do a big cleaning. In Japan, 大掃除　(おおそうじ　o-souji), which literally means 'big cleaning', is at the end of the year.

大掃除 is not just about getting the house in order before relatives and friends come over on New Year's Day. It has a spiritual and religious significance. Cleaning ones living and working spaces, especially by getting rid of soot and dust (煤払い　すすはらい　susuharai),　was thought to show gratitude for the previous harvest and the good things that had happened in the old year, and make things pure and ready for the new year.

大掃除 used to start on or around the 13th of December, which is called 正月事始め（しょうがつごとはじめ shougatsu kotohajime), the day in which New Years events and tasks start. But nowadays most people leave it a lot later, even as late as　the 31st of December, which is called 大晦日　(おおみそか　o-misoka). I'm not sure I'm up to cleaning the windows and sweeping the porch at this time of the year, but I'll try to at least get the house vacuumed before the New Year dawns.

Vocaulary terms

• 掃除　(そうじ　souji) - to clean (a house etc.)
• 掃除　(おおそうじ　o-souji) - year's end Big Cleaning, or a major cleaning session at any time of the year
• 煤払い (すすばらい　or すすはらい　susuharai) - the ritual of clearing soot and dust
• 大晦日　(おおみそか　o-misoka)　December 31st or New Year's Eve