A Housewarming Tradition

The Tradition, a look back as it may have happened.

Removing his cap and wringing it nervously between his hands, Boris watched as a member of Russia’s ruling party arrived, resplendent in full ceremonial custom. As the dignitary and his entourage entered the village, merchants paid their respects to him. Nervously, Boris ran back to his home and retrieved the gift that he and his wife, Yelena, had prepared for this occasion.As the visiting dignitary neared the edge of the village, Boris stepped forward to present him with a round loaf of bread that contained a mound of salt in the middle.

“What may this be?” the dignitary inquired of Boris.

“Bread for your good health and salt, for long life.” Boris replied nervously.

“This is for me?” the dignitary asked Boris.

“Yes. To welcome you to our village” answered Boris, as Yelena nervously brushed back a stray strand of hair, hoping that the official would not find the gift offensive.

The dignitary took the bread from Boris and breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of freshly baked bread. With a smile on his face, he said, “Such a wonderful welcome it is.” Hearing this, the rest of the  villagers cheered.

Thus a new tradition was born. While historians have no definite answer to the question of how the tradition of giving housewarming gifts truly came about, many believe that something similar to that pictured above probably happened, giving birth to the tradition. Some even speculate that it started with the birth of Christ and the gifts given him by the Magi.

Whatever its origin, however, the tradition of giving a housewarming gift to one’s new neighbors or friends has been followed for countless generations. It has also shown itself to be useful for breaking the tension between new neighbors and showing close friends and relatives how much we care for them.

Many meaningful friendships can be traced back to the tradition of housewarming gifts.

Housewarming Etiquette

As a rule, housewarming gifts should be practical, and a kitchen or cooking gift is always appreciated by neighbors or friends who have recently moved into a new house. A housewarming gift need not be very expensive, and overly expensive gifts may even cause the recipient and other guests to feel uncomfortable or awkward.

So Many Choices

While some people may find outdoor gifts useful, most people appreciate gifts for the kitchen or cooking. Even bachelors often find themselves in the kitchen when they have to entertain guests, so housewarming gifts that are useful in the kitchen are more appropriate than you may think.

A Good Neighbor

In a society that is less and less sedentary, housewarming gifts have become the perfect method of showing your support for someone who has been distanced from his or her family. This simple act of kindness is often the foundation of lasting friendships and mutual support. We are, unfortunately, all too often unaware of our neighbors’ names, and a simple housewarming gift provides a welcome way to remedy this situation, helping us establish communications with our neighbors.