Shaking the House (and My Habits)

Spring is officially here.

A wise woman once told me that we tend to forget spring isn’t actually all that warm. March arrives, and we expect Mother Nature to snap her fingers and magically turn it into sundress weather—time to pack away the winter coats and fully embrace the sunshine.

Sadly, in New England, that’s not quite how it works.

Spring is a process. A slow one.

It doesn’t happen overnight. Just the other day, I woke up thinking I’d only need a light jacket by noon. Instead, I walked outside and immediately froze—both literally and figuratively—as there was frost and a light dusting of snow covering the ground and my car.

Personally, I do not want to see snow in March. That should have been handled back in January. But nevertheless… here we are.

So, while we sit in this in-between season—not quite warm, but no longer deep winter—it feels like the perfect time to embrace what spring actually represents.

And what better way to do that than with a little spring cleaning?

Spring cleaning isn’t just about dusting off ceiling fans or finally putting away winter coats. It’s actually an ancient tradition with cultural and religious roots.

According to National Geographic, the earliest origins trace back to Persia over 3,000 years ago. The literal translation of the Persian term for spring cleaning is “shaking the house.” And honestly, thinking of it that way makes the concept feel a lot more active—and a lot more satisfying.

In the Jewish tradition, spring cleaning is closely tied to Passover (which I’ll be observing starting April 1st). In preparation, families remove all traces of leavened bread from their homes, honoring tradition and creating a clean slate—both physically and symbolically.

Catholic traditions also embraced spring cleaning in preparation for Easter and Good Friday, originally focusing on cleaning churches and altars. Over time, this practice made its way into homes, especially during the Victorian era, where it became associated not just with cleanliness, but with health, renewal, and even moral virtue.

Looking back at these origins, spring cleaning becomes more than just a seasonal chore. It’s an opportunity for a reset—a chance to clear out what no longer serves us and start fresh.

And if I’m being honest, this past week was anything but clean.

Not only did I disappoint myself, but I feel like I disappointed Grampy too.

So, in the spirit of the season, I’m taking this week as my reset.

Time to shake things up.

Clear out the bad habits.

Get back to the basics.

And come away with a clean food sheet—no bites, tastes, or licks.