Koreans give toilet paper as a housewarming gift because it symbolizes good luck and prosperity for the new homeowners.
In Korean culture, giving practical gifts that are also symbolic is a common practice when someone moves into a new home. While the gift might seem unusual to outsiders, it holds cultural significance:
- Luck and Good Fortune: Cleaning supplies, including toilet paper and laundry detergent, are believed to bring luck and good fortune to the new household.
- Unrolling Success: The long, easily unrolled nature of toilet paper is often interpreted as a wish for things to go smoothly and "unroll" successfully in the new home and the recipient's life. It's a visual metaphor for prosperity and easy problem-solving.
- Practicality: Beyond the symbolism, toilet paper is also a practical gift that any new homeowner can readily use, ensuring the gift is both meaningful and useful.
Therefore, the tradition blends practical help with a hopeful blessing for the future well-being of the occupants of the new home.
