Housewarming Gifts in U.S.A and Korea!

Have you ever been to housewarming parties? If you do, you might go there with presents that celebrate people's new houses! Interestingly, one of DSKUSSS members want to share what differences are there between the housewarming gifts in Korea and the one in the states. If you have any thoughts or comments, anything is welcome :-) Please comment your opinions!

Housewarming Gifts in U.S.A and Korea!

Jungwon Lee

Dept. of Global Studies

Pusan National University

Have you ever been to a housewarming party to your relatives or friends? A housewarming party is traditionally held around the world when one is moving into a new residence. It is an occasion for the hosts to present their new home to their friends and for friends to give gifts to furnish the new home. It could be an exciting moment to visit a new house! Then, what would be the traditional housewarming gifts in U.S. and Korea?

First, there are lots of traditional housewarming gifts that people in the U.S. prepare. Bread, salt, sugar, wine, honey, a broom, a coin and a candle. Bread means ‘never know hunger’, giving salt and sugar means ‘I hope your life may always have flavor and sweetness’. Wine symbolizes the hope that joy and prosperity may reign forever, and honey has a similar meaning to sugar. Giving a broom means ‘I hope your home may always be clean’ or ‘I hope you sweep away any evil and bad luck’. Coin means good fortune, and candle means always having light and happiness.   

However, in Korea, people usually give toilet papers, laundry detergents, or matchboxes to hosts. We can say that these three are traditional housewarming party gifts in Korea. To explain the toilet papers and laundry detergents, it is said that when Korea was a poor country, not many people could afford for toilet paper and detergent because these were too expensive. Also, in Korea, because it is said that the lengths of the sheets of toilet paper and the bubbles produced by the detergent represent prosperity, many Koreans buy these two without any hesitation. Also, the matchbox is the symbol of brightness, so that people who newly moved will always live in brightness.

Like these, there are so many housewarming gifts that contain deep meanings. However, nowadays, the trend is changing like buying other home appliances like a wall clock, coffee machine, or a flowerpot. What would be your choice? J