My Family Culture

My Family Culture: Three Items of Cultural Meaning

        To choose three items to cherish if I was displaced was easy and challenging all at the same time.  I was unsure if I wanted to choose practical items or items that I would just want close to my heart.  Of course, I went with the heart.  I chose three items that reminded me of the people who would give me inspiration and hope when I imagine I would need it the most.  

Item #1

       The first item I would choose to take with me is the Irish Claddagh ring that my mother gave me when I was a young girl.  I remember her giving it to me when she thought I was ready to understand it’s importance and take good care of it.  The traditional Claddagh ring signifies love, loyalty, and friendship.  Throughout my childhood, I remember my mother wearing her own Claddagh jewelry for special occasions and the one ring she kept on always.  She swore it brought her the exact things it promised: love, loyalty, and friendship…and she always through in Luck too.  This item will serve as my good luck charm so to speak.  Believing that it will draw in positive things like love and friendship and ward off the negative.

Item #2

      The second item I would choose to take with me is my grandmother’s necklace and heart pendant.  She passed away two years ago, and my grandfather gave me her necklace this past winter holiday.  This necklace is a part of all my memories of my grandmother, she wore it every day of her life that I can recall.  The chain is a simple rope design and the pendant is a hollow cage in the shape of a heart.  Nothing extravagant or special, but it represents my grandmother.  My grandmother was the rock of our family, telling you how it was with the greatest of intentions.  When I am unsure how to feel or how to act, I go to “what would grandma do/say?”  The idea of my family matriarch gives me a sense of moral and purpose.  This item will guide me in my decision making and encourage honesty to myself and to others, regardless of the context of the situation (Christian, 2006).

Item #3

    The third item I would choose to take with me took some deliberation because it is a clothing item.  I know that I can already take one change of clothing, so I really had to decide if taking another piece of clothing was thoughtful or irresponsible in choice.  However, I decided that I really love this shirt for multiple reasons and it must come with me.  First, it fits me perfect and is the comfort item I put on when I’m relaxing and at peace.  Second, the shirt has the Belgian Coat of Arms and the title “Detroit Cadieux Café”, which represents my family heritage and the place my father’s side has celebrated our heritage since he was young.  The Cadieux Café is where my grandfather used to take my dad and uncle to race pigeons and feather bowl, while eating delicious mussels.  I heard many stories about their adventures there growing up.  Third, I purchased this shirt at a family gathering celebrating my grandfather’s 90^th birthday and mourning my grandmother’s passing.  It was an emotional event to say the least.  I got to enjoy mussels and feather bowling with my closest Belgian family and honored my grandparents: the two most influential individuals in my life.  Every time I wear this shirt, I feel emotional, powerful, and proud because of what it represents.  This item will remind me of the love and pride my family has taught me.  We are connected and have a forever connection, our boundaries are limitless (Christian, 2006).  No matter how far I am from them, I will be reminded of my family’s history and love.

      To only take one of these three items is painstaking to choose.  I chose each one for specific reasons and it’s difficult to decide which item has the most precedence.  I really considered what kind of circumstances I might find myself in and what decisions I may have to make to survive.  Thinking realistically, two of my chosen items are jewelry and hold monetary value.  I love these two items and everything they represent, but they could be valuable to sell or trade if I needed.  And if it meant survival, I would give these items up knowing that my mother and grandmother would encourage me to do the same.  The third item I listed is too personal to give up.  The shirt simply only has value to me because of the memories it evokes.  The shirt also encompasses multiple meanings and memories, a multidimensional item.  And thinking realistically, I will have a second clothing item by keeping the shirt.  It may be my last shirt I ever get to wear and that I would be happy with!


Reference

 

Christian, L. G. (2006). Understanding families: Applying family systems theory to early childhood practice. Young Children, 61(1), 12-20.