The idea of love is shown in so many different ways around us — even with an item that someone gifts to us. Especially family items that are passed down through generations, carrying memories, stories and connections last far longer than any holiday gift. Heirlooms can be anything from jewelry or watches to photographs, letters or recipes.
While they may seem ordinary at first, these objects often represent important moments and people in a family’s history. Alejandra Hernandez (12) retells the story of how she received the heirloom from her own mom upon coming across it by looking at her mom’s jewelry box. She details it by saying, “This necklace is a very special heirloom because it was given to me by [my] mom. One day I had asked about what the significance of this necklace was when I found it stashed away in her old jewelry. Now as a way to carry my parents’ pride, I wear this necklace wherever I go, and so when I’m older, I can give my future child the same necklace that was their grandparent’s as a way to remember their love.” In other words, it’s a symbol that she takes with her and if somebody asks then she has a story to tell them — something so small that has a constant reminder of her parents’ love and soon to be her own.
What makes heirlooms special is the meaning behind them. They allow younger generations to feel connected to relatives they may have never met, keeping family stories alive and personal. Nyla’ri Torres (11) has her own bangle that was passed down by her mother, which was also passed to her mother from her own mother. Given to Torres on her 17th birthday, she explains, “Something so personal to me lays on my wrist. It accompanies me everyday, [and] everytime I look at it, it brings me back to the day I turned 17 and in 10 years from now I’ll think about it every time.” A bangle, the representation of the connection between her and her mom that is able to accompany her every day simply by wearing it, adding to the next generation of kids that will inherit that same bangle.
Passing down an heirloom is more than giving away an object — it’s sharing trust, love, and responsibility. Many families choose meaningful moments, like holidays or milestones, to pass these items along. Melanie Vicente Aramburo (11) has her own heirloom, a ring that was gifted to her by her mother, who received it from her own mother as well. The ring itself stems from a quinceañera, a traditional celebration in Hispanic culture when a girl turns 15. She mentions, “My grandma gave me my mom’s quince ring the day before my quinceañera as a gift for me for
turning 15. Every time I look at it, it just reminded me of the moment that I turned into a woman and not a girl anymore. It also reminds me where I came from and that my mom was once my age too.“ The ring itself holds a connection between her and her mother, a subtle nod to her coming of age in her culture. It’s something tied to culture, connection and love from a mother. She recounts her own experience as a memory that never ends that will be kept within the ring that she wears every single day.
