Housewarming: signs, customs and traditions. What to give for a housewarming

The purchase of new housing is connected not only with the euphoria of the acquisition, but also with such troubles as running around in various instances to reissue papers, transporting accumulated good and labor-consuming repairs that never go without nerves ...

But at last all the worries behind, the walls are covered with fresh wallpaper, and the bathroom sparkles with new plumbing. All the furniture is arranged in its place, and even the flowers bloomed before the time after transplantation 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 to follow the wisdom of the older generation or not, it is up to the owners of the house to decide.

We offer you to get acquainted with the traditions to arrange an unforgettable holiday, think through contests with symbolic prizes, and maybe feel like theater actors and play scenes for a housewarming party. 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 cock

So, housewarming! The signs, customs and traditions associated with it came to us from a distant past. It was believed that whoever enters the house first will leave it, so it was decided that the oldest man in the family should be the first to enter the new dwelling, which thus sacrificed itself to the pagan gods. When Christianity superseded paganism, this custom became more humane, and instead of the elder in the family, the cat was first admitted into the new houses and left there for a while. The place where the cat fell asleep was considered light, and it was there that they arranged a "red corner" in which icons and a lamp were placed. Why is it a cat, not a cat? The answer is simple: in view of the cat's behavior, cats are marked by corners and furniture, and these traces of crime have a very specific smell, which is very difficult to derive.

Instead of a cat, the main character, who had the role of a "pioneer", was a cock. He was associated with fire and a home. The rooster was launched into the house, where he had to expel the lurking evil spirits with a loud croak. After the cock conducted an "act of exorcism", his fate was predetermined: he made a cold from him (he was a jelly) and treated all guests who had come to a housewarming party. Signs, customs and beliefs associated with people and livestock, this is the end, and in the course were rites aimed at the otherworldly forces.

Lover of milk and sweets

The true keeper of the house is none other than the house guard. And if the cock in the city apartment is found exclusively in the soup, then the brownie - a phenomenon quite common. This is a kind spirit, which considers itself the master of the dwelling, its duty is to help the family with whom it shares its territory. If the housekeeper does not like something, for example, unwashed dishes or a dirty floor, he begins to arrange "demonstration performances" with the lamps burning out and the loss of various things, such as keys, mobile phone and purse. In addition, the house does not tolerate, when family members quarrel with each other, and if this happens, does not allow to sleep at night, making various sounds.

To greet the brownie, he needs to leave on the saucer something tasty, such as sweets or biscuits, and pour a glass of milk, to which he is a great hunter! His favorite subject is a broom (they say that he often hides behind him, watching his charges). Therefore, the broom must always be clean and not disheveled.

To strengthen protection, it is necessary to introduce an icon into the new house, which, together with the house, will protect the household from all evil.

Modern magic

What to do for those who do not believe in the house, and on the nose - housewarming? The signs, customs and traditions associated with moving to a new dwelling do not need to be based on religion or long-standing beliefs.

In order to live happily in the new house, first you need to open all the windows wide and let in more fresh air. After that you need to unscrew all the cranes at least for a few minutes. Running water will wash away all the negative, and fresh air will bring clean energy. The last (control!) Blow on the evil spirits - lit candles and cheerful music all over the house. All this will envelop the dwelling with a light aura and fill it with joy and happiness.

Bread, salt and ... cake!

If a lot of guests are expected for the holiday (housewarming), the owners need to take care that, in addition to the richly laid table, there would be enough bread and salt in the house, because this is the first thing you need to treat arrivals. Bread and salt have long been considered a symbol of prosperity, which you need to share with your neighbor. Guests who came to congratulate the newly-weds happy owners of new housing should bring sweet rolls with them, so that the hospitable house never becomes scanty and always was a full cup. By the way, instead of rolls, you can bring a cake - for housewarming, it certainly will not be superfluous!

Variations on the topic of presents

And, of course, we should separately talk about gifts. As a rule, when entering the house to new settlers, they need to give something that is somehow useful in the household:

• Kitchen utensils (cutting boards, containers for spices, beautiful cans for storage of loose products);
• Household appliances (yogrutnitsu, coffee grinder, blender, mixer, bread maker, microwave oven, kitchen scale, set for fondue);
• Dishes (plates, salad bowls, tea set, glasses, candy, honey container, baking dish, set for sushi);
• Textiles (tablecloth, beautiful potholders, napkins, bed linen, a set of towels, door mats) ;
• Decor (paintings, photo frames, watches, figurines, cushions, albums for photos, sconces).

In every gift - the share of jokes

In addition to traditional, you can give comic gifts for housewarming, for example, a satellite dish, an antenna for a future 3D TV set or a set of trembles, whose task is to keep on their "shoulders" a collection of fur coats that will necessarily appear at the hospitable hostess of the house.

In addition, novoselyam certainly like an alarm clock that will not allow you to oversleep your happiness, or the bell, calling all households to the table, and computer lovers will appreciate a table for a laptop or a mouse pad.

And in money happiness

Most recently, donating money for a housewarming was not accepted, but modern life has made its own adjustments to this custom, and finance can be a wonderful gift, especially for young couples who are just starting a joint life. To issue a cash gift is simple: it's enough to put bills in a beautiful cardboard house or in a box.

New Year in a new house

And if the housewarming happens before the New Year, then it's easy to please the owners of the house with a gift: Christmas garlands, gaily blinking with colorful sparks, are very useful in the household! In addition, you can give Christmas toys, figures of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden, knitted snowmen and other New Year decor. A lucky gift will serve as a ring for napkins, ice bucket for a bottle of champagne, beautiful candlesticks.

In short, if a housewarming party is planned, signs, customs and traditions should not be left out, and one should not neglect the celebration of this joyful event together with expensive guests. This is an excellent occasion not only to acquire the necessary things on the farm, but also to start a new life cheerfully! Be sure to celebrate a rare and such a bright holiday - housewarming, and life will become more colorful and brighter!