Like birthdays and holidays, housewarming parties are the perfect time to present your loved ones with meaningful gifts. Traditional gifts are making a comeback and are very popular for housewarming parties.
Traditional housewarming gifts like salt, coins, and bread have symbolic meanings; presenting someone with a coin or a bag of salt might sound silly to us today, but it actually means you wish the recipient good health and fortune!
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What is the Traditional Housewarming Gift?
Since the ancient period, communities have gathered around each other and wished each other well during significant milestones.
One of these milestones is moving into a new home.
These housewarming traditions vary from culture to culture, but they all fundamentally mean the same thing: they are ways that people wish their neighbors and loved ones good luck and happiness as they embark on a new path in life.
The “housewarming party” has its roots in the medieval period. In fact, according to Merriam-Webster, the term “housewarming” dates back to 1577!
When a couple or a family moved into a new home, their family and friends would bring firewood and light all the fireplaces. At the time, people believed that evil spirits lived in dark, cold places – so warm fire, laughter, and merriment were believed to banish evil spirits from a new home!
Why Traditional Gifts Are Still Cherished Today
Unique housewarming gifts are more heartfelt than any modern gadget. Traditional gifts have specific meanings that wish the new homeowner well. The meaning of the gift (as well as the gift itself) is shared, creating a connection between the giver and the recipient.
Top 10 Traditional Housewarming Gifts and Their Meanings
The meanings of many traditional housewarming gifts have been lost over time. However, others endure as lasting symbols of luck, happiness, good fortune, and fertility. Here are our top 10 traditional housewarming gifts for good luck and the meanings behind them:
1. Bread
A gift of bread wishes the recipient will never go hungry and that their kitchens will always be full. If you go the traditional route, a loaf of baked bread from your local bakery (or a loaf you made yourself) wrapped in a towel and placed in a basket will make a lovely presentation.
2. Broom
Gifting a broom to a new homeowner is laced with symbolism from hundreds of years ago. While the broom symbolizes that the homeowner will always have a clean house, using the broom itself sweeps away the bad luck that may be lurking in the dwelling.
3. Candle
Candles represent light and happiness, wishing the recipient that there will always be light in the dark times. Candles make great housewarming gifts, but you can always spruce up a store-bought candle with a personal note or a decorative candle holder.
4. Coin
Coins represent good luck and fortune, making a great gift at any housewarming party. A gift of coin descends from an old tradition of scattering coins all over the floor of a new home to wish the owners good luck in their new life.
5. Olive Oil
A symbol of health and well-being, olive oil is the perfect gift for couples just starting in their first home together. A great way to gift olive oil is to store it in pretty jars with handles for easy pouring. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can package a collection of flavor-infused cooking oils for your favorite cook.
6. Rice
A gift of rice gives blessings of fertility, sending well-wishes to the new homeowners that the love in their home will multiply. We don’t recommend handing your loved one a bag of rice, though; pour the rice into a decorative mason jar with a personalized note attached to jazz up this traditional gift.
7. Salt and Herbs
Salt and herbs are gifts laced with symbolism. The items themselves bestow wishes that the recipients will always have flavor and spice in their lives. Salt is also considered a warden for bad luck; new homeowners would spread salt in their windows and doorways to ward off witches and evil spirits. A great way to gift salt and herbs is in small, airtight jars or pair them with salt and pepper grinders.
8. Plant
Many plants have significant meanings; many bring good luck, good fortune, and positive energy. Bring a Peace Lily or a Lavender Plant to your next housewarming party to promote health and positivity. If you want to wish the new homeowners good luck, you can’t go wrong with a rubber plant or a money plant.
9. Wine
Wine is a go-to favorite for housewarming gifts. Wine symbolizes prosperity and joy, so a gift of wine tells the new homeowner that you hope they will always be in good spirits and never be thirsty.
10. Wood
Gifts of wood date back to the medieval period when people would give gifts of firewood to their neighbors. Wood symbolizes peace and stability, making it the perfect gift for a new homeowner.
Today, people exchange blocks of wood for something more elegant and tasteful. They give wooden utensils, cutting boards (like our premium bamboo cutting boards), or wooden signs as housewarming gifts.
Traditional Housewarming Gifts From Around the World
Housewarming gift traditions vary from culture to culture, making for some fascinating gift ideas. Let’s look at some traditional housewarming gifts from around the world; some might surprise you!
Traditional Irish Housewarming Gifts
Like most of Europe, it is customary in Ireland to bring a traditional gift to a housewarming party.
Some gifts you might see at an Irish housewarming party are:
- a loaf of bread
- a container of salt
- a bottle of traditional Irish whiskey
- a candle
The Irish people are known for their blessings, so someone might bring a gift like a plaque with an Irish blessing inscribed on it.
Traditional Indian Housewarming Gifts
In the Hindu tradition, the Griha Pravesh ceremony is the equivalent of a housewarming party. Guests to this event might gift the new couple with:
- small, decorative idols
- diyas (lamps believed to banish bad energy)
- brass cookware
- food basket
Griha Pravesh is an event that includes rituals, prayers, and gift-giving to bless a new home and its owners with good luck and prosperity.
Traditional Scottish Housewarming Gifts
In Scotland, housewarming gifts pay homage to the country’s unique culture. Tartan-themed gifts or a specially prepared bottle of whiskey are always popular. Some other traditional Scottish housewarming gifts might include:
- Salt: salt has been believed to promote fertility and wealth and has been a standard housewarming gift since ancient times
- Frogs: In Scotland, frogs are a symbol of good luck. So, if you buy a home in Scotland, and your new neighbors buy you a ceramic or a wooden carved frog, consider yourself blessed!
- The Tree of Life: The Tree of Life symbolizes prosperity and is a very important symbol of luck in Scotland.
Whether you are buying a home in Scotland or have Scottish neighbors, know that someone who gives you one of these gifts only wants the best for you.
Traditional Japanese Housewarming Gifts
Japan has a thriving gift-giving culture that goes beyond parties and special events. In several situations, gifts are exchanged in Japan, including visiting someone’s home. Known as temiyage, this gift presentation is a gesture of gratitude, respect, and friendship.
Some more interesting facts about temiyage are:
- Common gifts of temiyage are food items: these are usually individually wrapped snacks (often from the guest’s home country) that the giver and the recipient can enjoy together.
- Gift wrapping and presentation are important: A gift should always be wrapped in beautiful paper or furoshiki (a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth) and presented to the recipient with both hands.
- Japan is a modest culture: it is customary for a recipient to refuse a gift at least twice before finally accepting it.
Temiyage also applies when moving to a new neighborhood. When someone moves, they usually present their neighbors with household or kitchen items as a mark of respect.
Traditional Italian Housewarming Gifts
Italian culture is centered around food and family, so traditional housewarming gifts reflect this importance to everyday life. If you attend an Italian housewarming party (or one where the owners are Italian), stick to traditional gifts like:
- Pasta
- Bread
- Wine
- Olive oil
- Salt
Each has its own significance in Italian culture, and they symbolically bless the recipients with fidelity, good health, and good fortune.
How to Choose the Perfect Traditional Housewarming Gift
Traditional gifts are making more appearances at housewarming parties worldwide, but how do you know which traditional gift to present at your next housewarming party? Don’t worry; we have some ideas to help you choose the perfect gift.
- Figure out what you want to say with your present: Do you wish the new homeowners health, happiness, or good luck? Choosing a message to impart with your gift is essential to any traditional present.
- Consider the recipient’s cultural background: If you want to honor the recipient’s cultural traditions, find out if anything would offend them before buying a gift.
- Think about the recipient’s lifestyle: Are they busy people, or do they have a lot of downtime? Consider the recipient’s average day before choosing a housewarming gift.
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Housewarming Gift
Choosing the right housewarming gift is important, but you can get it wrong in many ways. Try to avoid these mistakes when choosing your gift:
- Don’t show up empty-handed: An invitation to a housewarming party means a gift is expected. If a family member does not have a housewarming party, you should still give them a housewarming gift if you visit them within six months of their move-in date.
- A great gift isn’t a replacement for hospitality: Be especially inviting to those who are new to your neighborhood. Tell them where the best grocery stores are, who the best plumbing service is, and where the best schools are.
- Try to be original: While a candle is a great gift, use your imagination and think outside the box. Present them with a traditional gift or a modern gift with a traditional twist.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about giving traditional housewarming gifts.
What is the Symbolism of a Housewarming Gift?
While most people will give modern gifts like household items, kitchen accessories, or décor, others opt for more traditional gifts like bread, salt, or wine. Each traditional gift has a different message, such as wishing the recipient good luck, fortune, health, or prosperity.
Can Traditional Housewarming Gifts be Personalized?
Of course! Many believe that unique engravings or markings create a personalized gift, but we don’t think so. Personalization doesn’t have to be expensive. All it means is adding a personal touch to your gift.
What Are the Best Ways to Present Traditional Housewarming Gifts?
Homemade gifts with handmade cards hold much more meaning than items you buy in a store. Go the extra mile and present your gift in exquisite wrapping, or add a personal note wishing the recipient well in their new home. If you are giving a traditional gift, make sure to include information about the significance of the gift.
What Are Some Modern Alternatives to Traditional Housewarming Gifts?
Today’s most common gifts have their roots in traditional housewarming gifts. Some modern alternatives to traditional gifts are wooden household items and décor, salt and pepper shakers, and gift cards.
Conclusion
From traditional to modern, housewarming gifts are meant to bestow well wishes of good luck, fortune, and prosperity on a new homeowner. While modern items like kitchen accessories and home decor make great gifts, traditional items like salt, olive oil, and plants carry more meaning. With some careful planning, you can choose a housewarming gift that your loved one will cherish forever.
Once you choose a traditional gift for your next housewarming party, pair it with one of our sustainable bamboo kitchen products. We have cutting boards, charcuterie boards, utensils, and more!