煤すす払はらい

noun

housecleaning; cleaning dust and soot from rooms

General cleaning of a house, especially removing dust and soot. Can be used for ordinary cleaning, not only the year-end tradition.

• 年ねん末まつに家いえ中じゅうのすす払はらいをした。

  We did a thorough housecleaning at the end of the year.

• 古ふるい家いえはすす払はらいが大たい変へんだ。

  Cleaning soot and dust in an old house is hard work.

noun

year-end big house cleaning; traditional December 13th cleaning

Specifically refers to the traditional Japanese custom of a major house cleaning done on December 13th (or around that time) to welcome the New Year. Often associated with preparing for the New Year deities.

See also: 煤掃き

• 日本にほんでは、12月がつ13日にちを「すす払はらいの日ひ」と呼よぶことがある。

  In Japan, December 13th is sometimes called 'Susuharai Day'.

• 昔むかしは、すす払はらいをしてから正しょう月がつの準じゅん備びを始はじめた。

  In the old days, people started preparing for the New Year after doing the susuharai cleaning.