Imagine packing up your family and all your belongings once a year, usually around April 1st. ‘Flitting Day,’ as it was called, was once a common occurrence in Pennsylvania and other areas of the country. Local newspapers included stories of both family and business moves in late March and early April.

A March 29, 1901, report in the Sunbury Gazette and Northumberland County Republican had a tongue-in-cheek view of the annual event. “Freely translated "flitting day" means a time when, to escape a raise in rent, the angry tenant ruins his health and temper, boxes all his furniture, breaks half of it in so doing and then pays half a month's salary to have the goods carted three blocks to a house on which he can save $6 a year rental. It is likely that the remaining half of his furniture has been smashed or lost while making the trip, but the $6 has been saved, and "Flitting day" has been celebrated. From all accounts, Sunbury had more than its share this year of the universal furniture smashing and household moves. The investigation led to the discovery that there was not an unengaged van in the town and that most of them tried to be in three to five places at the "same hour. The first of April is an important and, at times, an eventful day in this business community.

Where did the tradition come from? It appears to have been a common occurrence in places like England and Scotland. From a reference in Chambers Book of Days, we find one explanation. “The 25th of May, as the Whit Sunday term (old style), is a great day in Scotland, being that on which, for the most part, people change their residences. For some unexplained reason, the Scotch 'remove' oftener than their southern neighbors. They very generally lease their houses by the year and are thus at every twelve-month's end able to shift their place of abode. Whether the restless disposition has arisen from the short leases or the short leases have been a result of the restless disposition is immaterial. That the restlessness is a fact is what we have mainly to deal with.”

It happens accordingly that at every Candlemas (February 2nd), a Scotch family gets an opportunity to consider whether it will, in the language of the country, sit or flit. The landlord or his agent calls to learn the decision on this point; and if 'flit ' is the resolution, he takes measures by advertising to obtain a new tenant. The two or three days following upon the Purification, therefore, become distinguished by a feathering of the streets with boards projected from the windows, intimating 'A House to Let.' Then comes on a most lively excitement for individuals proposing to remove; you see them going about for weeks, inspecting the numerous houses offered to them.

As families immigrated to this country, the practice, in some cases, came with them. Moving day was found among not only the Scots but the Irish, Pennsylvania Germans, and other ethnicities as well. But the May 25th observance did not hold true in Pennsylvania. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, April 1st was flitting day in Pennsylvania. That’s when all leases for the tenant farmers, and for those living in towns like Danville expired. However, in some years, the actual moving day varied. Among some families, especially the Pennsylvania Dutch, there were superstitions involved. For instance, Friday flittings meant” short sittings”. In addition, there were moving day superstitions no matter what day of the year.

In his book Popular Home Remedies and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans, author A. Monroe Aurand, Jr. includes these pieces of advice on moving day. Never take an old broom while moving. Leaving something behind when removing is a lucky omen. Never take eggs with you when moving. A child should be given some cold water immediately after moving to prevent its becoming homesick. If you keep a stray cat after moving, good luck. Don't take the cat with you the day you move, its bad luck. Fetch her.

An April 6, 1876, newspaper article in the Middleburgh Post, Snyder County, aptly described what transpired on April 1^st of that year. “All was commotion topsy–turvy -mixed up -helter-skelter: old Mrs. and young Mrs.; big Miss and little Miss; old men, and young men; big boys and little boys; all huddled up, with but one object in view - flitting, FLITTING. The boys and girls seem to enjoy it hugely, the old folks not so much so. We emerged from our hiding place about 10 o'clock a. m. and placed ourself conspicuously before a moving boss - It worked charmingly -- we were invited 12 o'clock, noon, at his new place of abode, but made a faint effort to be excused, (being afraid at the same time our effort would be accepted), it was not however, and were there at the requested time. Well, it rarely happens that poor editors get a good square meal. Four days have passed since that important event took place --- we are all right again and progressing.

It was Centennial moving day, and we will never forget it. It was raining and snowing the greater part of the day, making it very unpleasant outdoor exercise. We hope, however, all who have changed places may find their homes, houses of joy, comfort and prosperity.”

The keen businessman took notice of Flitting Day. The website LancasterHistory.org says, “As early as 1886, advertisers took advantage of the big move to sell furniture, blinds, cleaning products and the like. One clever carpet-cleaning business offered to pick up your dirty rugs from the old address and deliver them, cleaned, to the new one.”

As we close out this article on Flitting Day, fast forward to the 21st Century, and you’ll find Americans are still on the move. According to the  U.S. Census Bureau, the average American moves approximately 11.7 times throughout their lifetime. However, this number varies widely depending on factors such as age, income, and marital status.

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 move much more frequently than older adults. Folks between 18 and 34 have an average of 3.3 moves under their belts. In contrast, adults aged 65 and over move much less frequently, with an average of 2.4 moves throughout their lifetime.[1]