Irish Housewarming Gift Ideas

• Moving into a new home is usually a trying experience, which is why cultures the world over have traditions regarding housewarming gifts. Housewarming gifts in Ireland are often constructed around traditional Irish blessings and wishes for a happy home. Irish blessings along with traditional Celtic objects or native flowers offer a wide variety of options for Irish housewarming gifts.

Blessings

• Traditional Irish blessings for a happy home abound. Many of them have to do with folklore and history and involve mythical characters like leprechauns or Celtic heroes. Search the internet or your local library for Irish blessings and poems, and pick out your favorite home-related passage. Write the passage with calligraphy and frame it for a wall-hanging or, if you know how, needlepoint it on a potholder or a dishcloth.

Gift Basket

• In Ireland they are fond of soda breads and ales. Put together a traditional Irish gift basket with fine breads, local jams and a choice selection of ales or even Irish whiskey. Irish crème coffee is also a traditional favorite. Include a small bottle wrapped in a festive green ribbon and decorate your basket with shamrocks and wildflowers.

Music

• Music is part of the national Irish heritage and identity, especially in the north where the Ulster-Scots have songs for each clan or family. While it might be a little expensive to buy a musical instrument as a housewarming gift, you can honor this tradition with recorded music from this region. Look for songs that feature traditional Irish instruments like fifes, fiddles and guitars. Play the music while you celebrate together.