A Warm Welcome

Giving a gift when someone moves into a new home is a tradition which is believed to span centuries and ranges in meaning from country to country. It was thought that the home would be warmed by the giving of coal to use to light the first fire. This was believed to guarantee your home would always be warm and welcoming.  

While the history of the housewarming gift has no definite point of origin, a popular story that has been recounted and is thought to be the origin comes from Russia - a villager named Boris, along with his wife Yelena, presented a gift of bread and a pinch of salt to certain dignitaries that were passing through their village. This tradition was welcomed and has continued with further products being added to the list of items within different cultures.

Another popular reference to this tradition comes from the well-known 1946 film, "It's A Wonderful Life," where the main characters played by Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart welcome a family to their new home with three symbolic gifts and a brief, heartfelt speech.

Here is a list of the items considered traditional housewarming gifts.

- Bread – So your cupboards will always be full

- Salt – So life may always have flavour

- Sugar – So life will always have sweetness

- Broom – So your home will always be clean

- Coin – So you may dwell in good fortune

- Candle – So you may dwell in light and happiness.

- Wine – So joy and prosperity may reign forever

While you wouldn’t want to turn up to your friend or families new home with a loaf of sliced bread, these items can be put together and made into a helpful housewarming basket or hamper that has an added meaning behind it. Spruce up your items by putting them in some fancy jars and include the meanings inside to add an extra special touch to the gift.

Do you know of any other housewarming traditions or gifts? What’s your favourite from the above?

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