Scottish/Celtic customs for dedicating a new home?

[Bob C]

An old tradition, I remember, when reading about Ireland, was to place a glass jar of sand by the front doorstep. Now, I know you're not religious (I am not particularly religious myself), but, this was to keep an evil spirit busy counting the grains of sand until morning, when he was banished by the sunlight. I always thought it was an interesting story, and wondered, exactly, how big a jar someone would need

I like that one. What a great conversation starter! "Umm, why is that jar of sand sitting by your door?"

Thanks. I wonder how many of these I can get the wife to accept. Maybe, if I start with the owl guts, she'll take the rest to get rid of that one.

[Archangel]

My wife and I are buying a new house and moving - hopefully next month.

Does anyone know of any Scottish/Irish/Celtic customs for dedicating a new home?

No religious stuff, please. We're not religious.

Might want to reconsider the Celtic customs if we're to leave out "religious stuff", there's not much left after that.

Anyway, a nice Viking custom was to bring something from your previous home, if it was a happy place ( a not nice Viking custom was to bring something from other people's previous homes, ha). Something from the building itself. A lot of north British customs originated from the Vikings.

Food, fire, drink are all welcoming. Clan structures are based more on common bonds than blood so those items reinforce that. Generally, your friends should bring the traditional gifts, that would be nice.

Horse-shoes, iron, heather, silver in the hearth/mantle: darn, they're all religious. Stick with food, fire and drink.

[Phil]

Roosters, jars of sand all sounds a bit black magicky to me. The only custom I know of is to throw a house-warming party, invite all your friends and neighbours, pour too many drams and have a great time.

[brandycr]

tried to raid the elders brains see if the can remember anything this is what i got.The black roosters blood was put there because according to them at least somebody always died when they built the house a rock would fall on thier head or a tool accident something so it was almost like the house had a blood offering lol .gross aint it lol but with the newer houses things are safer and people hardly ever die so the blood was like a sacrifice to the house i quess .they explained it and im still clueless go with the sand man go with the sand.ilike that one

[emolas]

My ex mother-in-law always said that when you move into a new house the first item of yours that should be brought in was a broom and dustpan. She didn't know why just that it was what you were supposed to do. But she's from Greenville and I've seen how weird you people can get Personally, I agree with Phil. Throw a party and everyone gets drunk.

[katmills2005]

Celtic rituals I've studied in the past include:

Carrying burning sage around the perimeter of the home. This is to cleans the area around the home so no ill may pass.

With a new broom (preferably one you made yourself, or you can get a straw broom and tuck the herbs inside the bristles) that contains rue and heather. Sweep the house from the back door to front, shake the broom outside and carry it back in. This broom will bring happiness to the home and cast out any spirits that may have tried to enter before you moved in.

Rue is always a good choice for bringing into a new home. Note that Rue brings the most luck to you if you steal it. (I just usually tell a friend that some of her rue will mysteriously vanish)

Bloodroot draws love and avert negativity; place on doorways and windows for protection

Planting male and female holly around the house is another way to bring blessings onto the dwelling, especially if you are wanting to have children.

Anise wards off evil and is best planted in a circle.

[Ozman1944]

Sounds more like American Wicca than any real Celtic tradition.....Bloodroot & Hogwart with a dash of rue etc. My Granny never did anything like that.

[macwilkin]

Getting somewhat back on topic; Bob, I think you could easily come up with a variation of the first footer/Hogmanay custom and the quaich.

When we moved into our house a year ago, we had a house blessing (I'm not suggesting it you, of course) and before the ceremony began, I met the guests at the door with my quaich (filled with The Macallan, of course!) and offered it to those who wished to partake. Our priest loved it --and The Macallan, of course! :mrgreen:

I have heard of the broom and dust-pan custom before as well; matter of fact, they were the first things we brought into the house.

If anyone remembers the scene in The Quiet Man where Mary Kate cleans Whiteomourn for Sean, she laid the broom on the floor on top of a wee pile of sweepings -- I still need to research that one.

Regards,

Todd

[ManuFortiDB]

Just a quick note regarding horseshoes - my grandma said you're supposed to have it over the door, points up (ie in the "U" position) except tilted slightly, so that the luck will spill out onto whoever passes under it.

db

[macwilkin]

Just a quick note regarding horseshoes - my grandma said you're supposed to have it over the door, points up (ie in the "U" position) except tilted slightly, so that the luck will spill out onto whoever passes under it.

db

That's one of the theories of how to hang a horseshoe -- some say to hang it points down so the luck will run over the house.

T.