The purchase of new housing is associated not only with the euphoria of the acquisition, but also with such troubles as running around at various instances to reissue papers, transporting accumulated goods and laborious repairs that never go without nerves ...
But finally, all the worries are behind, the walls are covered with fresh wallpaper, and the bathroom sparkles with new plumbing. All furniture is arranged in its place, and even the flowers bloomed ahead of schedule after transplanting into brand new pots. So it's time to celebrate the housewarming! The signs and customs associated with this unusual celebration are very interesting and varied. Our grandparents attached great importance to them, but it is up to the owners of the house to decide whether to follow the wisdom of the older generation or not.
We offer you to familiarize yourself with the traditions in order to arrange an unforgettable holiday, think through contests with symbolic prizes, or perhaps feel like theater actors and play scenes for housewarming. This article will be useful both for happy owners of new housing, and for those who decided to congratulate them on this important event.
Red corner, cat and rooster
So, housewarming! The signs, customs and traditions associated with him came to us from the distant past. It was believed that the first one to enter the house will be the first to leave him, so it was decided that the oldest man in the family should enter the new dwelling before anyone else, who would thus sacrifice himself to the pagan gods. When Christianity supplanted paganism, this custom became more humane, and instead of the eldest in the family, the cat was first let into the new house and left it there for a while. The place where the cat fell asleep was considered bright, and it was there that they arranged a "red corner" in which the icons and the lamp were placed. Why exactly a cat, not a cat? The answer is simple: in view of the feline features of behavior, cats mark corners and furniture, and these traces of the crime have a very specific smell, which is very difficult to remove.
Instead of a cat, the main character, who had the role of a “pioneer”, was a rooster. He was associated with fire and a hearth. The rooster was launched into the house, where he was supposed to expel all lurking evil spirits with loud crowing. After the rooster conducted the “act of exorcism”, its fate was predetermined: it was cooked jelly (aka jelly) and treated all the guests who came for a housewarming party. Signs, customs and beliefs associated with people and liveliness ended there, and ceremonies aimed at otherworldly forces were used.
Milk and sweets lover
The true keeper of the house is considered to be none other than a brownie. Moreover, if a rooster in a city apartment is found exclusively in soup, then a brownie is a quite common phenomenon. This is a good spirit, which considers itself the owner of the home, his duty is to help the family with whom he shares his territory. If the house-keeper does not like something, for example, unwashed dishes or dirty floors, he begins to arrange "demonstrations" with the lights out and the loss of various things, such as keys, a mobile phone and a wallet. In addition, the brownie does not tolerate when family members quarrel with each other, and if this happens, does not let him sleep at night, making various sounds.
To greet the brownie, he needs to leave something tasty on the plate, such as sweets or cookies, and pour a glass of milk, to which he is a great hunter! Favorite subject of a brownie is a broom (they say that he often hides behind him, watching his wards). Therefore, the broom should always be clean and not tousled.
To strengthen the protection, it is necessary to bring an icon into the new house, which together with the house will protect the household from all evil.
Modern magic
What to do to those who do not believe in brownie, and on the nose - housewarming? The signs, customs and traditions associated with moving to a new home do not have to be based on religion or long-standing beliefs.
To live happily in the new house, first of all you need to open all the windows wide and let in more fresh air. After that, you need to unscrew all the taps for at least a few minutes. Running water will wash away all the negative, and fresh air will bring clean energy. The last (control!) Blow to evil spirits - candles lit throughout the house and cheerful music. All this will envelop the home with a bright aura and fill it with joy and happiness.
Bread, salt and ... cake!
If a lot of guests are expected for the holiday (housewarming), then the owners need to make sure that, in addition to the richly laid table, the house should have enough bread and salt, because this is the first thing that guests should treat. Bread and salt have long been considered a symbol of wealth, which must be shared with others. Guests who came to congratulate the happy owners of new housing on a housewarming party should bring sweet rolls with them, so that the hospitable house never becomes impoverished and is always a full bowl. By the way, instead of buns, it is quite possible to bring a cake - for housewarming, it certainly will not be superfluous!
Presentation Variations
And, of course, it's worth talking about gifts separately. As a rule, entering the house to the new settlers, they need to give something that is somehow useful in the household:
- kitchen utensils (cutting boards, containers for spices, beautiful banks for storing bulk products);
- household appliances (yogurt maker, coffee grinder, blender, mixer, bread machine, microwave oven, kitchen scale, fondue set);
- utensils (plates, salad bowls, a tea set, glasses, a candy bowl, a container for honey, a baking dish, a set for sushi);
- textiles (tablecloth, beautiful potholders, napkins, bedclothes, set of towels, door mat) ;
- decor (paintings, photo frames, watches, figurines, cushions, photo albums, sconces).
There is a joke in every present
In addition to the traditional ones, you can give comic housewarming gifts, for example, a satellite dish, an antenna for the future 3D TV or a set of trempels, whose task is to keep a collection of fur coats on your "shoulders", which will certainly appear at the friendly hostess at home.
In addition, newcomers will surely like an alarm clock that will not let them oversleep their happiness, or a bell that calls all households to the table, and computer lovers will appreciate a laptop table or mouse pad.
And money is happiness
More recently, it was not accepted to give money for housewarming, but modern life has made its own adjustments to this custom, and finances can be a wonderful gift, especially for young couples who are just starting a life together. Making a cash present is simple: just put the bills in a beautiful cardboard house or in a casket.
New Year in a new house
And if a housewarming happens just before the New Year, then it’s easy to please the house owners with a gift: Christmas garlands, blinking with colorful sparkles, are very useful on the farm! In addition, you can give Christmas decorations, figures of Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, knitted snowmen and other New Year's decor. A good gift will be napkin rings, an ice bucket for a bottle of champagne, and beautiful candlesticks.
In a word, if a housewarming is planned, signs, customs and traditions should not be left aside, and the celebration of this joyful event together with dear guests should not be neglected. This is a great occasion not only to get the things you need in your household, but also to have a good start in your new life! Be sure to celebrate a rare and such a bright holiday - housewarming, and life will become more colorful and brighter!