Scottish/Celtic customs for dedicating a new home?

[Arlen]

A piece of iron either buried under or somehow put into the hearth brings good luck and safety to a new home.
That's one my family has always gone by. Although the fireplace is now plastered over because no one around here can buy coal anymore.

The 'first foot' ceremonies described above can also be done to dedicate a new house.
It should be a tall, dark-haired man.
In some places in Scotland it's also considered very, very, very good luck if a red-haired woman comes to your house and lights a fire in your hearth without saying anything to anyone.
(Once the fire's heartily roaring she can talk. She doesn't have to just leave after that.)
That said, it's bad luck if the first foot or first person in a new house is a red-haired man.

[katmills2005]

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.

There is a deep connection between Wicca and Celtic. Many of the wiccan traditions came from ancient celtic pagan traditions.

http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Ce...raditions.html

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Traditi.../dp/080652135X


http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amet...calmagick.html


If we celebrate our Celtic heritage, then we should understand the roots of our past fully. Celtic traditions are pagan. Many of those traditions were adopted by the Christian church and transformed into something the common people would understand and relate to. However, the core of Celtic pagan life revolved around nature and what was seen as their elements. A sprig of rue may seem like a bunch of nonsense to some, but then so would hanging a horseshoe over one's door.

[Mike1]

OK, this one is starting to cross the line.

Let's move back onto safe ground and discuss the dedication of a new home, rather than identifying practices that are pagan and/or religious in nature.

If we can't get this one steered back where it belongs, down it goes.

[GlassMan]

I was looking around and saw one reference to a having a piper to ward off evil spirits!

[Panache]

I was looking around and saw one reference to a having a piper to ward off evil spirits!

And neighbors...

[MacWage]

And neighbors...

Aren't "neighbors" and "evil spirits" the same thing?

[Archangel]

Aren't "neighbors" and "evil spirits" the same thing?

You might want to look here: piper

[Bob C]

And neighbors...

I live in a rural area. My nearest neighbors will barely be within earshot of the pipes.