MAIN Home Life Entertaining Housewarming Party

The tradition of housewarming parties probably began with cavemen bringing embers from their fire to their friends new cave to "warm" their hearth. Gifts from friends, family and neighbors may take the place of hot coals in modern home, but the wonderful feeling of opening your new home to guests for the first time is still as popular as ever.

The traditional housewarming gifts of bread and salt date back to the Middle Ages when newlyweds moving out on their own were given the basic staples of life to start their new household and bring luck to the new home.

Bringing sugar along on a visit to a friend or relatives new home came to signify best wishes for a sweet and happy life...and in that regard you could never go wrong with a gift of wine.

These traditions are still alive. A housewarming brings good wishes and friendship to warm the new house or apartment and thoughtful gifts to fill the rooms.

Green, growing houseplants are always a popular gift and a phone call to find out what the new kitchen lacks in terms of small appliances is a great way to make sure that your gift will be used. Towels for the kitchen or bath make good housewarming presents... Just about anything that gets used frequently makes a thoughtful gift for new home owners.

If you're hosting your first housewarming, make it a hit with a look at party tips, advice and ideas, menus, recipes and more...

More about housewarming gifts & party ideas around the Web:

DigsMagazine.com - Housewarming How-Tos - Is it tacky to sign up with a gift registry? (Yes.) And other practical, fun and in-depth answers on housewarming and open house party traditions, along with logistics and finger food recipes, tips on party themes, etiquette, and advice on gift-giving clearly discussed over four pages. Keep clicking.

Ellen's Kitchen - Get Out the Big Pots - Cooking for a crowd of 20 or more, with tips and advice and complete recipes for supersized pasta and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, baked chicken, mashed potatoes and more with related resources.

New House Warming Party - The housewarming party as the perfect excuse for pot luck dinner, with suggestions on what to ask your guests to bring and what to prepare in advance.

Housewarming Party Ideas - From ReasonToParty.com with suggestions on invitations, food, party games and decorations.

Russian Housewarming - A brief intro about ancient Russian housewarmings, followed by a complete menu of recipes for finger foods, salads and more, plus how to make traditional Stolichny for dessert.

Counting the Cost - Frugal Housewarming Gifts - Do-it-yourself, reader-contributed ideas from around the house and kitchen, including homemade breads or cookies, gourmet coffee mix, or a collection of your favorite recipes, more.