Have you ever given any thought to the people who used to live in your home? Most people don’t like to think about it but odds are you weren’t the first person to sleep under your roof. Who knows what kind of drama unfolded in your home in the years before you moved in? Even if your home is a new construction, who knows what happened on the land where your home was built?
In a land as old and storied as Italy, this is a major concern of the people. What if something bad happened in the house before you moved in? What if there is a negative air? How can you get rid of it? Fortunately, the Italian people are as spiritual as their land is historic and they have come up with a series of traditions to cleanse a home of negative spirits.
A Crucifix
There is no better recognized way to keep evil away than by displaying a Crucifix. A symbol of the Resurrection of Christ, the Crucifix reminds evil spirits who the one true power is and forces them to retreat.
A Patron Saint
Every family needs a patron saint, a specific saint that they turn to in times of need. For many Italians their patron saint is the patron of their city or region. So a family from Naples would have a statue of San Gennaro in their home. For others the choice of a patron is more personal and can be based on family tradition or a particular saint’s life story.
The Horn
Every new home needs a horn. The Italian Horn is such an important part of Italian culture that it deserves its own article completely. But for now let’s just say that the horn is the most widely regarded amulet to ward off evil that the Italian people have.
A Broom
You need a new broom. Brooms symbolize the sweeping away of evil spirits. Also, they are weapons against mischievous spirits who may inhabit your home. These spirits, common in Italy, can be distracted by a broom placed outside your bedroom door. Compulsive by nature, the spirits get preoccupied counting the bristles and by the time they are done, the sun is rising and they have to run and hide.
Salt
A new homeowner who receives salt should sprinkle it outside their front door. Salt represents the salt of your tears. Sprinkling it outside your home leaves all your sadness outside the home. It is a way to mend old wounds and let bygones be bygones.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is at the heart of the Italian lifestyle. Not only is it an integral part of the Italian diet but it’s also a key to good health. To give a new homeowner a bottle of olive oil is to wish them a long and healthy life. If a married woman whose husband is faithful gives olive oil to another married woman, it is believed that the gift will keep the receiver’s husband faithful as well.
A Plant
Plants are a common gift of luck in many cultures and for good reason. They are a natural air freshener, liven up an area and bring perpetual life into a house. Tending for a plant also helps to reduce the stress of the owner. Therefore giving a new homeowner a plant is to wish them a healthy and stress free life.
Wood
Stability, harmony and peace with nature are all attributes of wood. To give a new homeowner a gift made of wood is to wish them those same traits in their life.
You may recognize some of these gifts and others may be new to you but they’re all part of an ancient Italian tradition designed to insure happiness in the home. And if you have a happy home, you have a happy life.
