Housewarming party

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A housewarming party is a party held on the occasion of moving into a new residence. It is an occasion for the hosts to present their new home to their friends, and sometimes for friends to give gifts to furnish the new home. Housewarming parties are generally informal; usually there are no planned activities besides a possible tour.

[edit] Gifts

Gifts are customary but not necessary. They usually consist of something for the new house (such as a potted plant, a vase, or a picture frame) or something to be enjoyed during the party (such as a bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers, or a gift basket of foodstuffs).

On the other hand, it is proper etiquette if one is throwing a house-warming party that gifts are not requested as it is a party and not a shower.

[edit] Variations

A housewarming party may be thrown upon completion of renovation or remodel.
A housewarming party may be presented as an "open house" where people are free to come and go during a fixed window of time on a given day.
A housewarming may involve a potluck meal.
Some people invite all of their new neighbors to their housewarming. This allows the hosts to meet their new community.
In some communities, neighbors may bring the housewarming party to the new residents to welcome them.
When leaving a residence, some people host a house cooling party.
Satyanarayana Puja and grihapravesam are Hindu housewarming rituals.