Chinese New Year Eve usually is on 30th lunar day of 12th lunar month. However, a lunar month might have only 29 days. In this case, the Chinese New Year Eve becomes on 29th day of 12th lunar month. For 2012, New Year Eve falls on 29th day of 12th lunar month that is 22 Jan 2012. The next day 23 Jan 2012 will be a new moon day, which is the Chinese New Year Day.

It is a custom in a Chinese household to thoroughly clean their home before the Chinese New Year’s Eve to get rid of the bad luck of the previous year. It’s similar to the “out with the old, in with the new”. In ancient China this is usually done on the 28th day of the 12 lunar month. However, this day might not be auspicious. Therefore other auspicious day is selected.

In Chinese, Chinese New Year Eve is called Chu-Xi or Guo-Nian . Chu means removal. Xi means night. Guo means passing. Nian means year.

Original meaning of Nian is related to farmer's harvest. Chinese Farmers celebrated their achievement for the past year, appreciated the gracious reward given from the god, and prayed for the same luck for the coming year.

House cleaning should be ready on or before the day Chinese New Year eve.

How to carry out your house cleaning 大扫除

If 2011 has been a very lucky year for you, then start cleaning from the main door towards the end of the house. This will make sure all the auspicious luck remain in the house and continue to prosperous in the year 2012.

If you feel that your luck is not very ideal then you must start cleaning from the end of the house for example your back door or kitchen and working towards the front door. This will make sure all the un-auspicious luck being swept out from the house.

If you feel that your luck is very bad and cannot be any more worse with all your efforts ends with failures then select a “Remove day 除日” to perform the cleaning. This is to make sure that “remove the old and establish the new 除旧立新” which will bring fresh luck and start all over again.Cleaning must start from the end of the house towards the main door.

Select an auspicious day for your cleaning. Please refer to chart. The following is the dates that you can use to clean your house.

Auspicous day	Chinese Calendar	12 officers	Zodiac to avoid
28-12-2011 Wednesday	十二月初四	执丁巳日 Initiate day	Pig
31-12-2011 Saturday	十二月初七	成庚申日 Success day	Tiger
06-01-2012 Friday	十二月 十三	除丙寅日 Remove day	Monkey
10-01-2012 Tuesday	十二月 十七	执庚午日 Initiate day	Rat
14-01-2012 Saturday	十二月 廿一	收甲戌日 Receive day	Dragon
18-01-2012 Wednesday	十二月 廿五	除戊寅日 Remove day	Monkey
22-01-2012 Sunday	十二月 廿九	执壬午日 Initiate day	Rat

Table 1. List of auspicious days to carry out your house cleaning 大扫除.