Lenten Cleaning With Bridget

This is a fitting title since the Irish maid in old stories is always named Bridget. 

When I was growing up my mother cleaned, and I mean CLEANED, the entire house during Lent.  Which is kind of funny because I don't ever remember it looking dirty.  But I do remember hauling the mattresses out to air in the sun, scrubbing walls and floors and diving into closets to purge them.

Actually, the tradition is to clean during the first three days of Holy Week but, with many children and even more stuff,  I need all of Lent. 

This is what Fr. Francis Weiser wrote in his book, The Year of the Lord in the Christian Home .

"According to an ancient tradition the three days after Palm Sunday are devoted in many places to a thorough cleaning of the house, the most vigorous of the whole year.  Carpets, couches, arm chairs, and mattresses are carried into the open and every speck of dust is beaten out of them.  Mother and children scrub and wax floors and furniture, change curtains, wash windows and dispose of all superfluous or unusable articles that have accumulated in the course of months.  The home is buzzing with activity.  No time is wasted on the usual kitchen work, the meals are very casual and light.  On Wednesday night everything has to be back in place, glossy and shining.

This traditional spring cleaning, of course, is to make the home as neat as possible for the greatest feast of the year.  It seems that the custom was taken over from the ancient Jewish practice, for the Jews in the Old Testament cleansed and swept and decorated the whole house in preparation for the feast of the Pasch (Passover)."

An orderly, clean home is a blessing to the whole family. 

I intend to start in my kitchen cupboards.  If I get brave, I will post before and after pictures.

Comments

[Kevin]

Just stay out of 'my' garage, dear. I know how you get! ;-)

[Willa]

Cleaning is going to be my Lenten project, too; thanks for the quote from the book! Ohhh... I think that posting before pictures would be a bit too challenging for me, but at least I'll take the pics, since you mentioned it -- great idea : )

[monica]

just found your blog and added you to my list. we too just started cleaning and the cabinets were my priority. not finished yet. dont know if i dare show pictures. will keep posted on your lenten cleaning spree.

[Suzanne]

My Slavic (mother's side) of the family all did this too. I remember my mom getting phone calls during Lent from my grandma and all her Aunties in Pueblo, CO and they would all talk about what they had cleaned!!!