Housewarming rituals

[myfs_130515]

Dear Cecil,

thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.

I would like to know what to do with the items after the housewarming ritual:

1. Can you eat the pineapple, etc.? If you do not want to eat the sweets, for example because you don't eat sweet foods, can you throw them away or is this like "throwing away the good luck"? Then, what are you supposed to do with it?

2. You mentioned A charcoal (representing gold) wrapped in Red paper. One can bring this in and need not light it up.
Is this placed on the stove? Can I throw it away afterwards or what should I do with it?
And
Red Hong Bao packets are also placed e.g. on the kitchen stove and keep a Red Hong Bao in each bedroom's cupboard drawer.
How long does this remain on the stove and in the bedroom's cupboard drawer?

Thank you again!

Best wishes,

Daniella

[Cecil Lee]

1. Usually, there is no hard or fast rule with regards to eating or throw away the fruits etc...

2. For example, when some of us collect our keys for the first time; homes can be in different conditions:-

2.1. Some homes like new condos are usually reasonably clean, with proper floor tiles etc...

2.2. While some homes (or apartments) are totally bare e.g. the floor is still rough cement surface etc...

3. Thus in the above example, especially fruits placed under Para 2.2 - may be unhygenic to consider eating for some.

4. However, when one is performing a move-in procedure, usually by then one has the floor tiles done up, and kitchen appliances such as the refigeration turned-on. Thus, here, fruits can be "cut-up" and served partially or left overs can be placed in the fridge etc... It also depends on how ripe the fruit is. If the fruit e.g. pineapple is too ripe when purchased then may not want to consider eating it.. (safe to eat)

5. If one does not light up the stove; there is no harm in placing the charcoal wrapped up in red paper - to be "permanently " placed onto the stove. The stove with charcoal (wrapped in red paper) should be kept together in-tact. Usually, inthe past, family member e.g. mum or MIL would use the stove until it is tooold. But, if one brings in a "new" stove... have to keep it until sayagain move-house(if any). Same for the red packet in the bedroom cabinets.