What's the purpose of putting a broom at the door? Revealing folk customs and hot internet memes
Recently, the topic of "leaving brooms at the door" has sparked heated discussions on social media, with netizens discussing the meaning behind it. Some people think it is a traditional custom, while others think of it as a popular internet meme. This article will combine the hot content of the entire Internet in the past 10 days to reveal this phenomenon for you, and attach relevant data.
1. Folk customs: the symbolic meaning of brooms

In traditional folk customs, the broom is not only a cleaning tool, but also has the meaning of exorcising evil spirits and avoiding disasters. The following is an interpretation of the custom of placing brooms at the door in some areas:
| area | customary meaning | Related statements |
|---|---|---|
| Chaoshan, Guangdong | drive away bad luck | Placing the broom upside down can block the entry of evil spirits |
| Fujian Minnan | attract wealth | Putting the broom facing outward symbolizes "sweeping money into the house" |
| Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions | To ward off evil spirits and control the house | When moving into a new home, tie a broom with a red string and place it at the door |
2. Internet hot memes: The origin of the broom challenge
In 2020, NASA claimed that "the earth's gravity angle is special on February 11, and the broom can stand upright." Although the rumor was refuted as pseudoscience, related topics will still become popular during this time every year. This year the #BroomChallenge hashtag has become popular again on social media, with Douyin-related videos viewed 120 million times.
| platform | Topic popularity | typical content |
|---|---|---|
| Tik Tok | 120 million plays | Broom Upright Challenge Tutorial |
| #broomstickstand# 38 million views | Popular science refuting rumors | |
| little red book | 24,000 related notes | Share home cleaning tips |
3. Practical functions: broom placement in modern life
Putting aside superstition and entertainment, leaving a broom at the door does have practical value in real life. The survey shows that 67% of households place cleaning tools behind the door, mainly for the following reasons:
| Function | Proportion | Specific use |
|---|---|---|
| temporary cleaning | 45% | Quickly remove dust and debris at the door |
| Home reminder | 28% | Avoid leaving cleaning tools lying around |
| Feng shui layout | 18% | Follow traditional home furnishing principles |
| other | 9% | Including special purposes such as anti-theft warnings |
4. Expert Interpretation: Treat Traditional Culture Rationally
Folklore scholar Professor Wang pointed out: "The custom of placing brooms at the door combines practical needs and spiritual sustenance, and modern people should view it dialectically. We must not only respect cultural heritage, but also avoid excessive superstition." Psychological research shows that this type of ritual behavior can indeed bring psychological comfort to people, but there is no need to be overly persistent.
5. Hot discussion among netizens: Collision of diverse viewpoints
Under the Weibo topic #Do you have a broom at your door?, netizens’ comments were diverse:
"Grandma said that the broom should be placed upside down so that bad things can't get in."——@traditional guardian
"It's just that it's convenient to take, so there's no need to pay too much attention to it."——@pragmatist
"Every year at this time, playing with the broomstick and standing at attention has become a family repertoire." - @万狗达人
Conclusion:
The seemingly simple act of placing a broom at the door actually carries multiple meanings of cultural inheritance, scientific communication and modern life. Whether following traditions, participating in entertainment, or fulfilling practical needs, it is important to think rationally. What’s the story behind the broom at your door?
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