Chinese Customs and Ritual For Moving into a New House

You might be excited moving into a new house, but you should follow the Chinese customs to perform the ritual correctly.

Want to clear the space and the possibly leftover negative chi of the previous owner? Even if the home is brand new, people still believed that there is a need to follow these Chinese customs. It is to ensure that your stay is a harmonious and auspicious tenure. Moving home represents a fresh new start beginning, so it is very important to have an auspicious start (乔迁之喜).

11 Chinese Customs and Ritual For Your New House

1. Auspicious Date Selection

It is essential to choose a suitable auspicious date and time based on The Chinese Almanac (通胜). You should also calculate the birth data of the family members (八字), which priority goes to the head of the family to factored for best results. If you are not well-versed in this, you can always engaged a qualified professional for consultation.

2. Ritual is Only for Those Household Members Living in the House

Moving in is strictly reserved for immediate family members and should not include guests. The house-warming party is a separate matter.

3. Words of positivity

On the day of moving, always say something that is auspicious and avoid anything that is negative.

4. Do not Get Angry 

Do not quarrel, fight, scold children, throw temper or cry  on the day of moving too because all these actions symbolize unhappiness and unharmonious in the family.

5. Turn on Everything

You should light up and turn on water pipes, gas and electrical appliances to declare the preparedness and perfect function of your new home.

6. No nap please

Do not take afternoon nap in your new house on the day of moving as it symbolize laziness and illness.

7. Rice Urn of Good Fortune

Place a ceremonial red packet at the bottom of your rice urn, then fill it up with rice to the brim and stick a red and gold sticker that denotes ‘Fullness’  (满). You might also be interested to know the best material for a rice container?

8. Get Yourself New Cleaning Equipments 

Buy new brooms and mops. It is because you are moving into a new space, so you will not want to “sweep in your old troubles” with the broom from your last house.

Do not place the old broom in the garage, either. Throw it away or leave it at the old house. Buy a new mop too.

9. Ensure that Your Hands are Full 

Do not enter the house empty handed, every family members should bring along something auspicious, for example fresh fruits comprising Oranges (for prosperity), Apples (for safety), Pineapple (for good fortune), Pomegranate (for opportunities) and Peaches (for good health). You can also bring something valuable like gold, saving books and anything that symbolize good fortune.

10. Pregnant Woman to Avoid

Pregnant women should avoid the ritual process of moving house.

11. Use Your Stone on the First Day

On the first day, you must also open your stove and cook some desserts to symbolize (開火)