We ahve big ceremonies for, say, cutting the first sod, or for topping out – does anyone have any minor or private ceremonies they perform? I’m thinking of ‘the first flush of the new toilet’ – that sort of thing?
All the best…
To those who know – this may be obvious. To those who don’t – I hope I’ve helped.
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Placing the tree on the top of the rafters.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Do you also put a doll at the footings? I believe some east coast builders still do...apparently it's a throwback from the olden times when a still-born baby was put in the trench. Supposed to end the bad luck and bring only good luck to the new house.All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
Yuck! That's one I didn't need to know.
well then, slay a couple of slaves. it's the blood-offering to satisfy the evil spirits that is required...
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Sorry. I was actually looking for something a little more light-hearted...like 'chain the spoon to the coffee machine' type of event.
BTW - most people throw their life savings into the hole these days!All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
My DW put a current year penny on a piece of blocking before we nailed the last piece of T&G Cyprus bead board up in our pool house. We also had our concrete finishers put in about 5000 marbles in our slab.When we finished redoing our kitchen we had friends over for cocktails and celebrated the new kitchen by going out to eat.You could always leave a copy of you construction journal and job cost behind a piece of wallboard so when it is remodled the workers can get a kick out of how cheap things used to be. My Dad had a two-car carport built in 1959 that was used brick to match the house and a 24' x 8' red wood clapped shed with an exposed aggregate slab for $1735.00 with a $200.00 add on for paint.live, work, build, ...better with wood
I make a capsule from ABS - my 'time capsule' - and put in a newspaper headline, some info re the guys ("elec by Bert", "plumbing by Joe" etc), and the dates of construction, and whatever else I can think of. The cost sounds a great idea, I'll use it on the present job.All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
Interesting about the body, have you seen that written down somewhere? I have heard that a baby's shoe could often be found under the foundation stone of a house, apparently as a replacement for a body. I don't know how the shoe could be regarded as a replacement for a body.
I read somewhere that the foundation stone was always on the northwest corner of a building.
Coins are often found under doorsteps and pieces of certain woods were often hung above the door lintol to keep out bad spirits. The wood of the Mountain Ash or Rowan (latin name - sorbus aucuparia) can be found near any old house. It kept witches away.
Old traditions here in Scotland would have a drink for the workers when the foundation went in, another after the lintols were set and another when the building was topped out. I have an account of Irish masons in Dublin. Their working day was dependant on access to the Guinness.
When I finish a wall I like to look around and see if someone can put on the last stone, they can then say they built it.
NICK
Thanks for sending that across the pond...
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Firstly it's good to see the word 'lintol' after so many years.
Next, the most I've foung re anything written about bodies in footers is this link:http://www.from-ireland.net/house.htm, but out of fascination I'm still lookingAll the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
I was talking to someone tonight who recollected that blood had to be spilt before a building was finished. If no one had been injured, or killed, during the construction an animal had to be sacrificed.
The Ancients would also crush a slave under the foundation, for luck. The opinion of the slave was not recorded.
NICK
I'm imagining the ancient building inspector now - argueing with the OSHA rep.no Certificate of Occupancy until I see blood stains...
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blood had to be spilt before a building was finished
I would guess that thats not really a problem.
I know that on every house I've ever worked on blood has been spilt!
Doug
I've spent 1/2 hr looking via "KartOO", but only posted a fraction of what's there.
BTW, I find KartOO more wide-reaching than Google, if you get interested enough.All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
check myths from the Pacific islands, Babylon, and South America. Pole buildings in the Pacific were built with a servant wrapping arms around the base of the pole eight feet down to hold it in plcae against the Gods that sent Typhoons.In SA, blood consecrated the footings I've forgotten half of what I've read. Keep turning those pages.
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Ref: Your 78182.21In melanesis and micronesia as in polynesia, the main structural members warranted blood sacrifices, but many were motivated by having the authority to require such acceptance, rather than the 'hurricane protection' angle. The result was the same, and the method of placement
was not very considerate either.There was one project where I saw four tons of surrendered/confiscated firearms encased in a 400 cu.metre foundation pour - for the original owners, that act represented a very considerable "sacrifice".Lapun white grass.
What's a "foundation stone", and why the NW corner?
The foundation stone was the first stone laid, you can see them in important buildings, often with an inscription. Of course in humbler structures it was just one of the first stones on the first course.
I can't get any reason for the north west corner but have read that the Egyptians surveyed the sites for the pyramids by going to the northwest of the site then doing some nifty observation of the rising and setting stars. This allowed them to be surprisingly accurate in the layout of the site.
Nick.
What you are referring to is also called the cornerstone...
A shoe...instead of the doll. That's what they did in coastal CT. Also, a broken clay pipe in the chimney footing - to insure a good draw.
As for what I've done, just a general air of gladness at each little stage as I go along...
Edited to add: I put pennies, Big Y (supermarket) tokens, newspaper clippings, etc., & have everybody who works on a project sign & date, etc. Also, copies of lumber bills, etc. - but I think the original query concerned celebrations, always a good idea!
Edited 9/5/2006 5:39 pm ET by kate
we still do the tree here, today
well...its not really minor...well, in the vast scope of things it is...I spose'..
When I wake up each morning...I think," Wow, cool,, I made another one"!
Its always a celebration : )
No matter what~
So to put it gently with as much grace and poise as possible, I say
"KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHER F'ER" brother Wayne Kramer
Be well
andy...
You are one of a kind, bro. Love your attitude.Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
You are one of a kind, bro. Love your attitude.>>>>>>>>You know Andy...back when...when the MC5 did that tune I thought...what a great line. So simple and to the point, so street, so real. I kept it close to me when things got/get me down. Its puts me back in gear.
Kick out the jams Mother F'er....I mean really.
Whats so scary important, right? Stop boo hoo hooing and enjoy all the experiences that you are blessed with...there's no such thing as a bad day...not really. Ya know?
In Ram Dass' book "Still Here"(about growing older) he said to himself after he had his stroke..woe is me..Wait a minute, I'm Ram Dass. I'm always telling everyone its all good and I'm singing the blues cause I had a stroke.
After close examination of all he's learned from his stroke he saw it in a different light....of course theres more to it in the book.
He now describes his stroke as "being stroked". It taught him even more than he thought he knew about being humility : )
Be well
andy...
When we inflate a new air form, the builder usually makes a ceremony of it, typically with the homeowner pressing the button.
One worker on my house had a salt ceremony for good luck.
I celebrate each Friday by taking a check!
Doug
thats what I was thinking. Bank drive through and a free lollipop for the kids."Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
I told the wife to save the old horse shoes when the farrier comes through and we will try to embed them in the sidewalk.