white and red wooden house miniature on brown table
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13 Amazing Traditional Housewarming Gift Ideas for New Homeowners

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I have always loved going to house or apartment warming! Nothing is better than a place to call home and a feeling of pride at owning and decorating a place that represents you! The next best part is showing it off and celebrating with family and friends!

My home has always brought me happiness as a homemaker and mother. It is filled with memories and, in my opinion, has a soul! With that in mind, I have always loved giving traditional and meaningful gifts! It is a way of sending blessings and always makes it the most unique gift everyone loves! Plus, it is super easy and fun to do—way more fun than just buying a blender or microwave for someone!

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Pinterest image with text overlay. Housewarming gift ideas: Traditional gifts got new homeowners.

I hope that these ideas bring back a sense of deeper meaning and love that I think sometimes gets lost in this century. They also remind me of the friendship boxes I would make my friends when I was young. Maybe I will do a post on that sometime soon!

What are the origins of housewarming?

House·warm·ing /ˈhousˌwôrmiNG/ noun

  • 1. a party celebrating a move to a new home: “a housewarming gift”

Housewarmings come from many traditions, mainly European origins. Traditionally, when someone moved into a new home, neighbors, friends, and family would bring a gift of wood to add to the home’s fire, hence house-warming! Fires were vital long ago, blessing the inhabitants and their new home!

A few other ideas to include

  • A house blessing to say to write out in a card! Here are 15 house blessings from the Healing Brave blog!
  • A framed picture that is meaningful in some way to the homeowners! There are so many printable options on Etsy!
  • A framed quote that is meaningful to the home or homeowner in some way.

13 Best Traditional Housewarming Gift Ideas

These gifts were a sign of blessing, hospitality, and goodwill toward the new homeowners, so let’s bring back these ancient traditions!

person holding pastry

Bread

~May your house never go hungry.~

I feel like this is the most popular traditional gift! Bread is life and has played a vital role in human history. Plus, baking bread is a super relaxing hobby.

Ideas:

  • French bread.
  • Italian bread.
  • Bake your own!

Salt

~May your life always have flavor.~

Salt is another ancient gift with so much tradition and superstition. It flavors, preserves, and purifies, helping keep evil spirits and bad luck away!

Ideas:

Sugar or Honey

~May you always enjoy the sweetness of life.~

Honey and sugar have the same meaning, so you can choose what you want to give more or both for extra sweetness! I prefer honey because it also has the bonus of healing and soothing properties!

Ideas:

  • Find local honey at a farmer’s market.
  • Mix Cinnamon with sugar and place in a pretty jar (Cinnamon represents hearing & protection.).
  • Give a different honey, such as Sourwood or Orange Blossom honey.
black wine bottle beside two wine glasses

Wine

~May you always have joy and never thirst.~

Wine is also connected to prosperity. Some ancient items will never go out of style. This is a classic gift to be shared as you celebrate with the new homeowners!

Ideas:

  • Bring a few new wine glasses or decanter.
  • For non-drinkers, opt for an excellent cooking wine instead.
  • Add a unique wine topper.

Broom

~May your home always be clean.”

The broom is such an awesome gift with meaning beyond just a clean floor; it symbolizes cleansing the home of negative energy and evil spirits.

Ideas:

  • One of the cinnamon-scented brooms from the grocery store.
  • A regular broom for cleaning if spirituality is not their thing.
  • Make a besom for them!
gold and silver round coins

Coin

~May you always be blessed with good fortune.~

Coins have been associated with much symbolism throughout the centuries. They not only pay for things but can also be used for divination and other religious rituals; they hold the identities of different societies and can be talismans of good luck.

Ideas:

  • Chocolate coins.
  • Foreign coins for travel lovers.
  • Antique coins from pawn or antique stores.

Candle

~May your home always be filled with light and happiness.~

Candles are another classic gift with significant meaning. They gently light up the night and are also a symbol of hope and remembrance. There are so many kinds out there it can be hard to choose!

Ideas:

clear glass bottle beside plant

Olive Oil

~May your home be blessed with health and well-being.~

Not only is it healthful and commonly used in the kitchen, but sometimes you can find it beautifully bottled. Olive oils are religiously significant across many cultures. It has been a symbol of fertility, abundance, and prosperity since ancient times.

Ideas:

Wood

~May your home always have stability and peace.~

This was the most important gift to bring to a housewarming party. The home’s hearth was where many activities took place, and warmth meant life in ancient times. Wood represents stability and is the most valuable material in our world.

Ideas:

green plant on white ceramic pot

Houseplant

~May your home always be filled with life.~

House plants are a wonderful gift representing life itself. Bringing nature indoors can brighten a room and may give some health benefits when collected in abundance. Many different plants can have many different meanings.

Ideas:

  • Aloe Vera Plant – Healing & Protection. (Toxic to pets!)
  • Bamboo Plant – Good Luck. (Safe for pets.)
  • Chinese Money Plant – Wealth (Safe for pets.)

*All of these plants are easy to care for!

Rice

~ May the love in your home multiply.~

Ruce is often given to young couples to bless them with fertility. It is also a symbol of nourishment and sustenance. This is also a house staple and a perfect gift.

Ideas:

  • Put the rice in an antique stylish jar.
  • Put it in a personalized jar.
  • Make some seasoned rice mixes and put them in pretty mason jars.
pineapple on white surface

Pineapple

~May your home be filled with warmth, celebration, and good cheer.~

This tradition comes from obviously tropical locations. I think this one is unique and fun. Pineapples are sweet and delicious, so who wouldn’t want one? They represent welcoming and hospitality.

Ideas:

  • Make a fruit basket.
  • Bring it with a pineapple corer.
  • Bring the gift of a knife and cutting board with it.

Bonus: Horseshoe

A horseshoe is often placed on or above a doorway in a home with the open end facing up to welcome good fortune and keep away evil spirits. It is an ancient tradition with murky origins.

Conclusion

Moving into a new home is as important as getting married, having children, or graduating from college. These ancient gifts are a fun and meaningful way to help those you care for settle into their new home.

Let those you love know how much you care by gathering these useful and time-honored gifts, placing them in a lovely basket, and hopefully inspiring this tradition in others around you!

Stay cozy & have a lovely housewarming!

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