10 Interesting Housewarming Traditions Across the World We Bet You Didn’t Know

Stepping into a new home is a dream come true for everyone. No matter what’s your culture or your country, it is one of the most significant steps in anyone’s life. Various cultures across the globe have diverse ways to celebrate the auspicious day of entering a new house and some of these rituals are quite interesting.

In this article, we will tell you 10 interesting housewarming rituals from across the world that you haven’t heard of before. Let’s get started.

1) Bring Salt and Bread – Russia

One of the oldest housewarming traditions in the world comes from Europe and primarily mother Russia. Bringing salt and bread, the two most cherished symbols of hospitality, to your new neighbours, is an age-old tradition in the country. Bread is supposed to ensure that the home is never hungry and salt signifies that there is never a lack of spices and flavours in the home.

2) Light Candles – Europe

This ancient tradition of lighting candles on your first night in your home is believed to repel all kinds of negative spirits and darkness from dwellings. Also, the term house “warming” was also coined after Europeans used to literally warm their homes by lighting a fire in the fireplace!

3) Bring a Cow to the New House | Boil Milk – India

Cows are considered holy in Hinduism and have been worshipped for ages. Thus, it is also believed that walking a cow around the house will bring peace and prosperity to the home.

Also, do you know about the milk and rice tradition in Indian housewarmings? According to this ritual, milk and rice are boiled together until it overflows. It is considered to bring goodness and riches into the house.

4) Gift Pomegranates – Greece

In Greece, one of the oldest gifts given at housewarming parties is Pomegranates. The seeds of the fruit have been regarded sacred for a long while and are presumed to bring good luck, fertility and wealth to the new home.

5) Bring a Rooster – Germany

Before you enter a new home, you surely want to ward off evil spirits or negative energy from the home. In Germany, an ancient ritual to warn off negativity from a new home is by having a rooster in the new home. That’s why neighbours gift roosters to the new house owners in the housewarming sessions.

However, today the tradition has slightly changed as roosters are not quite friendly pets and hence, people often buy gifts such as homeware with roosters on them.

6) Ring the Bells – Asia

Ringing a bell is an auspicious Feng Shui tradition that cleanses your homes of the stagnant or dying chi or “energy” and establishes new “chi” in the homes. Positive Chi can invite wealth, prosperity and good luck to your homes.

7) Change the Chimney – France

In France, the hanging of a new chimney hook is a sign of the completion of your new home. It also symbolises the beginning of the meal with those who helped in the construction of the home. That’s why a housewarming party is also known as “pendaison de crémaillère” in France, which means “hanging off the chimney hook.”

8) Scatter Coins – Philippines

While entering a new home, Filipinos traditionally scatter coins into the living room or several parts of the home. This tradition is believed to bring good luck and wealth to the home.

9) Gift a Three-Legged Stool – Kenya

According to this tradition, the new homeowner is presented with a three-legged stool which is supposed to bring health and well-being to a new home.

10) Let Your Cat Walk the Home First – Russia

Another ancient tradition in Russia regarding housewarming is letting your cat enter the house before anyone else. Surprised, right?

According to this ritual, cats are believed to bring good luck to the new home.

Fun Fact– This tradition of letting your cat walk the home got so much popular that Russia’s largest bank started offering the use of a cat for 2 hours for customers who took a mortgage with them

So these were the housewarming traditions from all over the world. Now, what are you going to do for your housewarming?

If you want to try some out-of-the-box housewarming celebration ideas or you’re looking for creative ways to throw an excellent housewarming party, visit www.pepshep.com.