The house blessing hangs askew
News News blog
In Germany, the house blessing is known today mainly through the figurative expression "The house blessing hangs askew". This means that there is temporary trouble and discord in the marriage or family. However, house blessings actually did exist; they are blessings for the home that were placed in the house.
Common before the 19th century, house blessings were intended to protect the house and its inhabitants and exhort them to fear God. They were originally either applied directly to the wall or carved into the beams.
Due to the progress of the printing industry, house blessings were already being sold as mass-produced goods in the second half of the 19th century. They reached their greatest popularity around 1900. One of the best-known house blessings is "Come in, bring good luck." There were short sayings, but also long house blessings that asked for protection from fire for the house, happiness and health for the inhabitants, protection from diseases and epidemics for the livestock, etc.
House blessings were popular with both major denominations - for Catholics, images of the Virgin Mary or saints were inserted, whereas for Protestants, images of Christ or crosses were added.
At the beginning of the 20th century, house blessings also began to become popular in rural areas and workers' homes. Nowadays, however, you hardly ever see house blessings in Germany.
