The Stinking Candle

 

The Stinking Candle

 

It did, really…most of them anyway.

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..

Long before house plants and wine baskets became the norm, the tradition of giving housewarming gifts had a much more practical meaning. In old Europe, friends and neighbors would bring firewood when a family moved into a new home, which was often cold and stone-built without central heating. But this gesture wasn’t just practical; it was deeply meaningful. Fire warmed the home, cooked the food, and filled the darkness. These early gifts quite literally warmed the house.

That’s where the term “housewarming gift” originates—a gift meant to bring warmth, both physical and emotional, to a new beginning. As modern comforts replaced open hearths, the gifts changed, but the spirit of the tradition lived on, carried through countless cultures and generations.

Housewarming has long been more than just a celebration—it's a ritual of protection, prosperity, and good fortune. And with each culture came its own beautiful symbols and stories.

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, your brought a candle and offered a simple wish:

"May your home always have light.

So why were candles such a big deal? Glade (sic) you asked,

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 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. (Ah, the Good Old Days)

Higher-quality candles made from beeswax or bayberry were luxury items—cleaner burning, longer lasting, and sweet-smelling—but only the very rich could afford them. So, giving a good candle meant giving a small piece of light, warmth, and comfort in a world without an electric bill. In medieval Europe, lighting candles in a new home was also believed to ward off those evil spirits hiding in dark corners. A candle, after all, was more than just wax n’  wick-it was a symbol of hope, guidance, and warmth.

Now in the  forests of pagan Europe, bundles of herbs were given to be  hung in doorways and burned in corners. Rosemary stood for remembrance and loyalty. Sage was believed to cleanse the home of negative energy—a tradition still alive today in smudging rituals. Gifting herbs wasn’t just thoughtful—it was protective. No evil spirits welcome here either.

Home Sweet Home

In Jewish and Middle Eastern traditions, honey is given to wish the family’s life in their new home will be as sweet as its taste. During Rosh Hashanah, apples dipped in honey symbolize hope for a “sweet new year”—a practice naturally extended to new homes and new beginnings.

And come on, no gift says “welcome” quite like a bottle of good wine. In Christian traditions, wine symbolizes joy, hospitality, and sacred celebration. At the wedding at Cana, Jesus turned water into wine—a miracle of transformation, abundance, and delight. Bringing wine into a new home is a wish that says: “Drink Responsibly,” or maybe it was “Stay thirsty My Friend”?

No - it was….

"May you never know thirst and may your life here be full of laughter and love."

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.

 

Meme:

“May your house always feel like home, filled with comfort and warmth whether you are moving or not. And God Bless.