Personalized Housewarming Gifts

Moving into a new home is a milestone for anyone, whether it's buying or renting. If you're looking for pe...

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Personalized New Home Gifts

Whether you've been invited to a party or you're going to see a friend for the first time in their new home, it has become commonplace to take a present with you. When browsing you're often hit with the concern that someone might already have that item, or that everyone will buy the same thing and they just won't know what to do with it. With a range of stunning, handmade, personalized housewarming gifts, you can rest assured that not only will nobody else show up with the same present but also that no-one else anywhere will have the same thing. 

Personalized Housewarming Gifts

Searching for housewarming gifts for her tend to be much easier than trying to find housewarming gifts for him. With such a fantastic range it doesn't matter who you're shopping for, there will be something. All of our personalized housewarming gifts are handmade to order, by our in-house experts here in our studio. Each item is customized by you, from the design to the detailing to make sure that your presents are just as unique as the recipient, and their new home. Personalized housewarming gifts are a great way to show your support as they embark on the next stage of their life journey. 

The Origins of Housewarming

The term housewarming was originally intended to mean just that. Warming the house. When someone moved into a new house, guests would bring firewood and fires would be built in all of the fireplaces within the house. This was done both to warm the house through, as well as to repel evil spirits. It was believed that the atmosphere of warmth would be protective. In medieval times, houses that had been left empty would have been thought of as targets for spirits, and thus, this housewarming custom would cleanse the property so that it was safe for children to live in, as well as warm it through as it had been uninhabited. 

The Housewarming Party

Moving home is no small task, and guests are informed of housewarming parties anything from a few days up to around three weeks in advance of the occasion. Customarily these guests would bring gifts, often being something that was for the new house. Something to enjoy during the party was also considered an appropriate gift. Housewarming parties are sometimes thrown after a home has been significantly changed, such as a remodel, renovation or large extension being built. Some people invite their friends and family, and some will also invite their new neighbors as a way to introduce themselves. There are some communities where the neighbors will arrange a party and bring it to the residents to welcome them to the neighborhood. In traditional housewarming parties, pot luck meals were common, where everyone brought a (hopefully different) dish, which was often homemade. 

Variations in Housewarming Parties

In French-speaking countries a housewarming is known as a "pendaison de crémaillère" which means 'hanging of the chimney hook'. The chimney hook would control the temperature of food cooking in a large pot on the fire by raising or lowering it above the flames. This was the last part of a house to be built and it marked the beginning of a meal that was to thank everyone who had participated in its construction.

A "food ponder" is often held in the US, especially in the south. Each guest at this particular type of party would bring a pound of food. Commonly this would be a food which is considered a staple, often with a long life and that would be found in a pantry. Things like cheese, flour and sugar are popular. In more recent times tinned food has become more common and sometimes even fresh food is brought, although the main purpose remains to ensure that the hosts, who have just moved into their new home are set up with the basic foods.

Housewarming Customs

In India it is known as a "Gruha Pravesh" which means 'entering new house' and is a ceremony which often allows a cow to enter the house first. Whereas Russia, and former USSR countries believe that cats should be the ones let to enter a new house before anyone else, to bring the family, and the new home, good luck. Traditional Thai housewarming parties are Buddhist rituals. Important to this ritual are monks, family and friends and food.  

Symbols of Housewarming

In many countries, bluebirds are often given. Many people believe that they will bless the new house with good luck, and the residents with happiness. In more modern times, items which feature bluebirds are often given, such as china plates or vases. Pineapples and coconuts are common gifts or themes with housewarming, as they represent hospitality and warmth. This is something that has been found throughout the history of the Americas. In parts of Scotland and East Lancashire, a frog is considered a symbol that gives good luck. 

Custom Housewarming Gifts

Whether you use traditional customs as the roots for your designs, or you start entirely from scratch, creating your own personalized housewarming gifts is a fantastic way to show someone that you are thinking of them, and wishing them all the luck in the world for their new homes and in their future endeavors. Use your favorite photos, pictures of your smiling faces, or even personalize with names to create stunning personalized new home gifts that can't be found anywhere else. If you can't choose your favorite, you can create a photo collage using our montage tool, or you can even add logos.