It's the Thought That Counts

                                                                                   

                                  

 

                                                      

                                 

May and June are traditionally  popular months for moving in the United States and  in other parts of the world as well. The months are part of what’s called "moving season," which typically runs from May through September. With so many people settling into new “digs” during this time, it's also the perfect opportunity to think about thoughtful housewarming gifts. Whether it’s a house plant, a custom doormat, or a practical kitchen gadget, a well-chosen gift can make a new space feel a little more welcoming..

One of the most enduring housewarming traditions comes from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, where families bring bread and salt to new homes. Bread promises that the household will never go hungry. Salt adds flavor, preserves food, and symbolizes the richness of life and relationships.

In many Asian cultures, rice is far more than a staple—it’s a sacred symbol of fertility, prosperity, and sustenance. In ancient India, gifting uncooked rice to a new homeowner was believed to invite Lakshmi over.  She is the goddess of wealth and good fortune. The gift was both symbolic but chanting a quite prayer for abundance, and enough grain to feed a family in times of need didn’t hurt.

Now if you wanted to bring a treasured gift to the newcomer in the old days, your brought a candle and offered a simple wish:

"May your home always have light.

So why were candles such a big deal?

These weren’t artificially scented Yankee Candles. Candles were expensive and labor-intensive to make, and they were scented for sure but affordable candles were home-made from tallow (animal fat) and when they burned it was not lavender, citrus or vanilla that filled the air. They smelled terribly when burned. Folks would often call them by the proper name “Stinking Candles” — and with no air fresheners back then, that smell was something to endure. Families stored fat from butchered cattle and sheep in vats to make these candles, since hog fat was too soft and foul-smelling.

Still, it’s the thought that counts. A candle, after all, was more than just wax n’  wick, it was a symbol of hope, guidance, and warmth.

Higher-quality candles later made from beeswax or bayberry were luxury items—cleaner burning, longer lasting, and sweet-smelling—but only the very rich could afford them.

Today, whether you bring a plant for growth, a cutting board for nourishment, or a  vanilla noir scented candle for comfort, remember this:  you’re part of an ancient tradition.

And housewarming?

Long before folks brought houseplants and wine baskets, the housewarming gift had a more practical meaning. In old Europe friends and family would bring firewood when a  family moved into a new home which was often cold and stone built with no central heating. This gesture was practical and deeply meaningful. Fire cooked the food, warmed the house and filled the darkness.

That early gift was truly housewarming.