Moving into an EMPTY house

[myfs_109351]

Hi,

Your moving house ritual is more suitable for a house that has things like the lights or stove.

If I am opening the house of a EMPTY unit, what should I do ? There is no lights to turn on , no stove to boil water.

What should we do for opening the house door for the 1st time to an EMPTY house ?

Qibin

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Qibin,

Actually, there was a previous posting or postings of the initial opening of the door.

Since there are diverse dialect group, I have included the most common practises.

In general, if we analsyse all the actions to be taken, they are symbolic of "sowing" wealth into a home.

For your benefit, please see below:-

Initial Opening of the door for the first time

fficeffice" />

If we analyse all the various Chinese customs, all `rituals? or process performed is symbolic of "throwing wealth" into the home.

For example, ffice:smarttags" />Singapore has one of the largest population of Hokkiens (from Fujian Province, China).

THE PINEAPPLE

Thus, pineapple in Hokkien sounds like " Ong Lye " or "Ong" prosperity.

In general, many Hokkiens were told to roll in a pineapple into the home. Thus rolling in of a pineapple or "Ong" (Prosperity) sounds like rolling in LUCK into the home!

Depending on one's dialect group, there are various other "Jumping in" or "throwing in" process. As mentioned above, all these have to do with the idea of throwing in "luck" into one's home.

Just remember that the idea, here is to "roll" not "fly-in" the pineapple. It would be considered very inauspicious if one throws it too hard; where the pineapple simply rolls to the balcony and flys off the home. Here, one's wealth just fly-out of the window. Hows this for bad luck?

Therefore, if possible, try to roll it into the home gently. It would be great if it rolls to the "centre" area of the home. Here, wealth will spread to all other rooms.

RICE

Yes, as mentioned above, since the stable food of the Chinese is rice, than it is natural to go into the home and sprinkle (scatter) rice all around the various rooms of the home. (REMEMBER AGAIN: Don't spill it out of the window).

GREEN BEANS

Buy a small packet of green beans. Green symbolise the East or rising sun. And again scattering green beans in the home is also symbolic of seeding the home (symbolic of having growth of wealth or of children).

The remainder of the green beans can be placed in a small container with cotton wool. This container can be placed at the living room area before the balcony area. Water is added to this cotton wool with some green beans. Let the green beans sprout for a few days before throwing it away.

SALT

Especially if the house is a second-hand one, often, salt is sprinkled around the home to supposely cleanse away bad qi or old qi. Salt is also sprinkled in the toilet.

For a new home or apartment? Salt is corrosive. And for a new home, it is not advised to sprinkle salt especially in the bedrooms because of the teak or parquet floor tiles. Water reacting with salt on the new parquet floor tiles may just damage it.

"Huat Quay" or Rising Cake

Some Hokkiens like to bring in this cake. As the Hokkien term "Huat" suggests, it means "prosper". And bringing in this item is symbolic of rise or raise.

(Most often, this is brought in during the selection of the move-in date.) I have attached a brief description of what to do during an actual move-in. As opposed to this "getting" the key stage.

Some of the procedures mentioned under the attached doc file is often performed during the actual move-in.

But, some Chinese prefer to do it during the "getting the key" or first day. While others do it during the actual move-in date.

Since your parent suggested "pineapple", I believe, that one of your parents must be a Hokkien. Anyway Hokkiens are more "Ching Chye" or more easy going.

Frankly, one do not need to perform this ritual so often. E.g. getting the key stage, move-in stage. As it would seem quite repetitive and not so meaningful. Anyway, if one is the "Kiasu" (scared to lose type) or the "Kiasee" (or die, cannot lose type). there is no harm if one does this all over again and again.

THE CANTONESE DIALECT GROUP

Some Cantonese like to bring in all a combination of 5 type of fruits e.g. Mandarin Oranges or ordinary Sunkist oranges (which to the Cantonese "KUM" means gold); Other fruits can include 5 red apples, a bunch of bananas (no. of bananas not important), etc... And they each fruit should number = 5 fruits. For example, 5 oranges, 5 red apples etc?

The Cantonese like to buy a new charcoal stove, light it up, and boil water on it; But usually, for the Cantonese, actually, this is often done DURING THE MOVE-IN DATE. Where, they would jump over the stove (without getting hurt) into the house.

THE RELIGIOUS INCLINED

Many of those who are taoists, often pray to all the gods at the four corners of their new home. And they offer, incense, burn joss paper etc...

This therefore depends on your religious inclinations.

If one is a free thinker etc... skip this step.

VARIOUS CHINESE DIALECT GROUP

As mentioned above, there are so many separate Chinese dialect groups.

But as I had mentioned earlier, if we can focus on the "process" they are:

1. Each dialect group likes to bring in something that "sounds-like" - prosperity, bring them good luck, raise, promotion or "gold" into their home.

2. The throwing-in is symbolic of throwing wealth into the home.

SWEEPING THE FLOOR

CAUTION: Where possible, avoid sweeping the floor on the same day as doing the above ritual! It is best to sweep the floor only after 3 days of doing the above ritual. (As a last resort, the next day is still possible but never on the same day!).

Quote

On 1/20/2005 12:00:53 AM, Anonymous wrote:

Hi,

Your moving house ritual is

more suitable for a house that

has things like the lights or

stove.

If I am opening the house of a

EMPTY unit, what should I do ?

There is no lights to turn on

, no stove to boil water.

What should we do for opening

the house door for the 1st

time to an EMPTY house ?

Qibin

[Cecil Lee]

First-time-open door procedure:- Green beans sprouting symbolise growth!

[Cecil Lee]

More pictures of germinating green beans...

Quote

On 8/10/2010 9:35:21 PM, Anonymous wrote:
First-time-open door
procedure:- Green beans
sprouting symbolise growth!

[Cecil Lee]

Another successful sprout!

Quote

On 10/31/2010 7:20:17 PM, Anonymous wrote:
More pictures of germinating green
beans... On 8/10/2010 9:35:21 PM, Cecil
Lee wrote:
First-time-open door
procedure:- Green beans
sprouting symbolise growth!

[myfs_150641]

Hi Mr. Lee,
After rolling in pineapple and putting huat kueh and planting bean sprout, when do we remove the 3 items and what do we do with it? Do we just throw it away?
Thanks

[Cecil Lee]

These are some considerations:
1. Items Pineapple and Huat Kueh (Fa Gao)
1.1. Bottom of the instructions will indicate that these should preferably be removed after the third day i.e. on the fourth day.
1.2. Especially for those flooring is completed and such as marble or granite; should always bring along a container to place the pineapple. Why? This is commonsense. Some over ripe pineapple, may ooze their juice and it could STAIN expensive marble or porous granite tiles....
1.3. For all these items; they may / could be eaten or thrown away... (if not appertising then commonsense says throw them away)... never given away e.g. to the workers.. as symbolically this is akin to giving away one's wealth.
1.4 Thus "unfortunately" more often than not, they are thrown away) .. not left below a tree for the dogs or cats... or rats or cockroaches... Singapore is suppose to be a "beggar" free country so.. no issues with this group of people ...
2. Germinating bean sprout...
2.1 This has more to do with commonsense.
2.2 If one is not starting renovations soon or not moving in to a completed home, can leave the germinating bean sprout but if visiting the home remember to "water" it ...
2.3. Since this is a vegetable and not a plant; often vegetables can only last 1 to 2 weeks the most. Commonsense says that don't expect it to sprout into a tree!
2.4. Since it is non-lasting, after 1 or 2 weeks; throw it away. So far, I have yet come across any silly fool who had brought it home or to their parents to "fry Cha Keow Teow" with it. There is always a first, if anyone wants to do so... But don't say the idea, came from, here.

Quote

On 8/2/2011 10:49:13 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Hi Mr. Lee,After rolling in
pineapple and putting huat
kueh and planting bean sprout,
when do we remove the 3 items
and what do we do with it? Do
we just throw it away?Thanks

[Cecil Lee]

This has to be one of the most beautiful "bouquet" of spouting green beans.
Courtesy of a client: who recently obtained his keys at the DBSS Block 588 (a/b/c/d) Ang Mo Kio St 52 apartment...beautiful...
What a lucky start!

Quote

On 8/2/2011 7:11:35 PM, Anonymous wrote:
These are some considerations:1. Items
Pineapple and Huat Kueh (Fa Gao)1.1.
Bottom of the instructions will indicate
that these should preferably be removed
after the third day i.e. on the fourth
day.1.2. Especially for those flooring
is completed and such as marble or
granite; should always bring along a
container to place the pineapple. Why?
This is commonsense. Some over ripe
pineapple, may ooze their juice and it
could STAIN expensive marble or porous
granite tiles....1.3. For all these
items; they may / could be eaten or
thrown away... (if not appertising then
commonsense says throw them away)...
never given away e.g. to the workers..
as symbolically this is akin to giving
away one's wealth. 1.4 Thus
"unfortunately" more often than not,
they are thrown away) .. not left below
a tree for the dogs or cats... or rats
or cockroaches... Singapore is suppose
to be a "beggar" free country so.. no
issues with this group of people ...2.
Germinating bean sprout...2.1 This has
more to do with commonsense. 2.2 If one
is not starting renovations soon or not
moving in to a completed home, can leave
the germinating bean sprout but if
visiting the home remember to "water" it
... 2.3. Since this is a vegetable and
not a plant; often vegetables can only
last 1 to 2 weeks the most. Commonsense
says that don't expect it to sprout into
a tree! 2.4. Since it is non-lasting,
after 1 or 2 weeks; throw it away. So
far, I have yet come across any silly
fool who had brought it home or to their
parents to "fry Cha Keow Teow" with it.
There is always a first, if anyone wants
to do so... But don't say the idea, came
from, here. On 8/2/2011 10:49:13 AM,
Jeffrey Yeo wrote:
Hi Mr. Lee,After
rolling in
pineapple and putting
huat
kueh and planting bean sprout,
when do we remove the 3 items
and what do we do with it? Do
we
just throw it away?Thanks

[Cecil Lee]

If the previous photos were nice;
Just take a look at this new photos!
This has to be the all time or MOTHER OF ALL beautiful bouquet of spouting green beans!

Quote

On 9/13/2011 1:39:30 PM, Anonymous wrote:
This has to be one of the most beautiful
"bouquet" of spouting green
beans.Courtesy of a client: who recently
obtained his keys at the DBSS Block 588
(a/b/c/d) Ang Mo Kio St 52
apartment...beautiful...What a lucky
start!On 8/2/2011 7:11:35 PM, Cecil Lee
wrote:
These are some
considerations:1. Items
Pineapple
and Huat Kueh (Fa Gao)1.1.
Bottom of
the instructions will indicate
that
these should preferably be removed
after the third day i.e. on the
fourth
day.1.2. Especially for those
flooring
is completed and such as
marble or
granite; should always
bring along a
container to place the
pineapple. Why?
This is commonsense.
Some over ripe
pineapple, may ooze
their juice and it
could STAIN
expensive marble or porous
granite
tiles....1.3. For all these
items;
they may / could be eaten or
thrown
away... (if not appertising then
commonsense says throw them away)...
never given away e.g. to the
workers..
as symbolically this is
akin to giving
away one's wealth.
1.4 Thus
"unfortunately" more often
than not,
they are thrown away) ..
not left below
a tree for the dogs
or cats... or rats
or cockroaches...
Singapore is suppose
to be a
"beggar" free country so.. no
issues
with this group of people ...2.
Germinating bean sprout...2.1 This
has
more to do with commonsense. 2.2
If one
is not starting renovations
soon or not
moving in to a completed
home, can leave
the germinating bean
sprout but if
visiting the home
remember to "water" it
... 2.3.
Since this is a vegetable and
not a
plant; often vegetables can only
last 1 to 2 weeks the most.
Commonsense
says that don't expect
it to sprout into
a tree! 2.4. Since
it is non-lasting,
after 1 or 2
weeks; throw it away. So
far, I have
yet come across any silly
fool who
had brought it home or to their
parents to "fry Cha Keow Teow" with
it.
There is always a first, if
anyone wants
to do so... But don't
say the idea, came
from, here. On
8/2/2011 10:49:13 AM,
Jeffrey Yeo
wrote:
Hi Mr. Lee,After
rolling
in
pineapple and putting
huat
kueh and planting bean sprout,
when do we remove the 3 items
and what do we do with it? Do
we
just throw it away?Thanks

[Cecil Lee]

If there is a competition or contest to see who has the best bouquet of sprouting green beans; these two different bouquets got to be also considered as a front runner in the competition.
Please note that there are two sets of photos. The 3 photos with the red base belong to a different set of bouquet of sprouting green beans..
Enjoy the photos...

Quote

On 10/6/2011 9:25:33 PM, Anonymous wrote:
If the previous photos were nice;Just
take a look at this new photos! This has
to be the all time or MOTHER OF ALL
beautiful bouquet of spouting green
beans!On 9/13/2011 1:39:30 PM, Cecil Lee
wrote:
This has to be one of the
most beautiful
"bouquet" of spouting
green
beans.Courtesy of a client:
who recently
obtained his keys at
the DBSS Block 588
(a/b/c/d) Ang Mo
Kio St 52
apartment...beautiful...What a lucky
start!On 8/2/2011 7:11:35 PM, Cecil
Lee
wrote:
These are some
considerations:1. Items
Pineapple
and Huat Kueh (Fa
Gao)1.1.
Bottom of
the
instructions will indicate
that
these should preferably be removed
after the third day i.e. on the
fourth
day.1.2. Especially for
those
flooring
is completed and
such as
marble or
granite;
should always
bring along a
container to place the
pineapple. Why?
This is
commonsense.
Some over ripe
pineapple, may ooze
their juice
and it
could STAIN
expensive
marble or porous
granite
tiles....1.3. For all these
items;
they may / could be eaten
or
thrown
away... (if not
appertising then
commonsense
says throw them away)...
never
given away e.g. to the
workers..
as symbolically this is
akin to
giving
away one's wealth.
1.4
Thus
"unfortunately" more often
than not,
they are thrown away)
..
not left below
a tree for the
dogs
or cats... or rats
or
cockroaches...
Singapore is suppose
to be a
"beggar" free country
so.. no
issues
with this group
of people ...2.
Germinating bean
sprout...2.1 This
has
more to do
with commonsense. 2.2
If one
is
not starting renovations
soon or not
moving in to a completed
home,
can leave
the germinating bean
sprout but if
visiting the home
remember to "water" it
... 2.3.
Since this is a vegetable and
not a
plant; often vegetables
can only
last 1 to 2 weeks the
most.
Commonsense
says that
don't expect
it to sprout into
a
tree! 2.4. Since
it is non-lasting,
after 1 or 2
weeks; throw it
away. So
far, I have
yet come
across any silly
fool who
had
brought it home or to their
parents to "fry Cha Keow Teow"
with
it.
There is always a
first, if
anyone wants
to do
so... But don't
say the idea, came
from, here. On
8/2/2011 10:49:13
AM,
Jeffrey Yeo
wrote:
Hi
Mr. Lee,After
rolling
in
pineapple and putting
huat
kueh and planting bean sprout,

when do we remove the 3
items
and what do we do with
it? Do
we
just throw it
away?Thanks

[Cecil Lee]

Sprouting Green Beans.. getting better and better?

Quote

On 10/21/2011 8:17:23 AM, Anonymous wrote:
If there is a competition or contest to
see who has the best bouquet of
sprouting green beans; these two
different bouquets got to be also
considered as a front runner in the
competition.Please note that there are
two sets of photos. The 3 photos with
the red base belong to a different set
of bouquet of sprouting green
beans..Enjoy the photos...On 10/6/2011
9:25:33 PM, Cecil Lee wrote:
If the
previous photos were nice;Just
take
a look at this new photos! This has
to be the all time or MOTHER OF ALL
beautiful bouquet of spouting green
beans!On 9/13/2011 1:39:30 PM, Cecil
Lee
wrote:
This has to be one of
the
most beautiful
"bouquet" of
spouting
green
beans.Courtesy of
a client:
who recently
obtained
his keys at
the DBSS Block 588
(a/b/c/d) Ang Mo
Kio St 52
apartment...beautiful...What a
lucky
start!On 8/2/2011 7:11:35
PM, Cecil
Lee
wrote:
These
are some
considerations:1. Items
Pineapple
and Huat Kueh (Fa
Gao)1.1.
Bottom of
the
instructions will indicate
that
these should preferably be
removed
after the third day
i.e. on the
fourth
day.1.2.
Especially for
those
flooring
is completed and
such as
marble or
granite;
should
always
bring along a
container to place the
pineapple. Why?
This is
commonsense.
Some over ripe
pineapple, may ooze
their
juice
and it
could STAIN
expensive
marble or porous
granite
tiles....1.3. For
all these
items;
they may /
could be eaten
or
thrown
away... (if not
appertising then
commonsense
says throw them
away)...
never
given away
e.g. to the
workers..
as
symbolically this is
akin to
giving
away one's wealth.
1.4
Thus
"unfortunately"
more often
than not,
they
are thrown away)
..
not left
below
a tree for the
dogs
or
cats... or rats
or
cockroaches...
Singapore is
suppose
to be a
"beggar"
free country
so.. no
issues
with this group
of people ...2.
Germinating bean
sprout...2.1 This
has
more
to do
with commonsense. 2.2
If
one
is
not starting renovations
soon or not
moving in to a
completed
home,
can leave
the germinating bean
sprout
but if
visiting the home
remember to "water" it
...
2.3.
Since this is a vegetable
and
not a
plant; often
vegetables
can only
last 1
to 2 weeks the
most.
Commonsense
says that
don't expect
it to
sprout into
a
tree! 2.4. Since
it is non-lasting,
after 1
or 2
weeks; throw it
away. So
far, I have
yet come
across
any silly
fool who
had
brought it home or to their

parents to "fry Cha Keow
Teow"
with
it.
There is
always a
first, if
anyone wants
to do
so... But don't
say
the idea, came
from, here. On
8/2/2011 10:49:13
AM,
Jeffrey Yeo
wrote:
Hi
Mr. Lee,After
rolling
in
pineapple and putting
huat

kueh and planting bean
sprout,

when do we
remove the 3
items
and
what do we do with
it? Do
we
just throw it
away?Thanks

[Cecil Lee]

Anothervery successful sprouting of greens!To usher in the New Year!

[Cecil Lee]

Another nice: sprouting green beans

Quote

On 2/11/2013 4:46:59 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Anothervery successful
sprouting of greens!To
usher in the New Year!

[Cecil Lee]

Fair

[Cecil Lee]

Tall and thin

[Cecil Lee]

An extra large version...

[Cecil Lee]

Question: "Hi , sorry for disturbing again. For the sleep over night, may I check from what time to what time should we be there? As i heard people said differently about what time to be considered sleep over"

Reply:

Can argue until the cows come home.

There is really no right or wrong on this.

The key is: "Sleep OVER-night one night" is considered as moved-in.

What time to be there? Anytime before 2359HRS. Usually, what makes sense is spent an evening there. (and from there onwards till next morning).

Really, no written "bible" on such things. More to common sense.

Can ask a 1,000 people, and you may get a thousand answers. No right or wrong. Pure common sense.

[Cecil Lee]

Creativity at work...