The dote is an Italian tradition.
(and maybe used to be a tradition here too)
The family of a young woman prepares the dote for their girl(s) for when she will get married.
Since I was young, I had my mom and grandmother stashing away anything from towels, sheets, and everything in between.
Crazy huh?
And btw...they pick it for you.
I love that, because to me receiving a gift is not just getting something I want or like, but literally it is receiving the kindness and the thought that someone put in picking something just for you.
It makes a gift extra special, from those people that are far away or that have passed.
Those gifts hold a sentimental value,
more than just a $ value.
Those gifts hold a sentimental value,
more than just a $ value.
Today I am going to show you a few items that
I have here with me.
Obviously, the Italian sheets don't fit the American standard size beds...so those are still in Italy.
Here is a set of silver coasters.
Six are still in pristine conditions,
the larger one is showing some age.
It was given to my mom, and she passed it down to me...
and they will be passed down to my girls.
It seems strange to think that my babies one day will be grown adults...but the time will come sooner than I expect.
"The days are long, but the years are short"
Stay Frugal,
Daniela
What a great tradition! The coasters are very pretty :)
ReplyDeleteSusan
That is an awesome tradition. I never heard of it! Those are gorgeous pieces of silver. I like the aged one.
ReplyDeletehow very nice to pass down love with everything you save for them
ReplyDeleteVery sweet post! Those coasters are gorgeous. I have my moms silver that I treasure.
ReplyDeletethis is a lovely tradition, thats the way it is in our family as well and were not Italian! We all had a hope chest and things were set aside for when we married, my daughters were given a cedar chest and I have mine, I love to hear of others traditions, the silver is lovely ,
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet tradition!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE. Love learning about Italian traditions. I had never heard of a dote gift before. I also love that your mom shared with you something that had been given to her and that you will in turn share with your girls...one day :)
ReplyDeleteThat is nice to have something passed down to you like that. It's also nice that you will be keeping the tradition alive with your own girls. I guess the one that stands out in my life time is the hope chest. Girls would get them as teenagers and fill them with things they would need when they moved out and got married. It was a chest filled with their "hopes" for the future.
ReplyDeleteThat is what we used to call filling a Hope Chest. What fun to see what was collected for you-all done with love and your future in mind- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely tradition...I treasure all that has been handed down to me and will in turn pass them on to my children...
ReplyDeleteI had a glory box (hope chest) when I was a teenager, but didn't realise the significance of it back then.
Love the coasters :)
x
What a wonderful tradition and such nice pieces to hand down to your daughters. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteYes - a sweet tradition. It's sort of like our "hope chest" tradition. And our "wedding shower" tradition, where a bride and groom receive items at a party. Your silver is lovely.:)
ReplyDelete-Revi
Daniela, grazie di essere passata a trovarmi...Questa tradizione e veramente bella.
ReplyDeleteCiao a presto...Mary
What a nice tradition! I agree that someone who loves you took the time to choose something just for you makes it more special. No bridal registry for me. Your pieces are gorgeous, your family has exquisite taste, now we know where it came from! :-)
ReplyDeleteJanet
Lovely tradition, and lovely pieces. When I was young girls had a hope chest, usually cedar, that they put special things in for when they married, crocheted doilies,linens, whatever. Of course, back then, girls generally lived with their parents until they married. I think that tradition fell by the wayside when girls started leaving home before marriage, and often set up housekeeping before the wedding.
ReplyDeleteMy mom had a hope chest that she passed onto my little girl and it holds great sentimental value...I love stashing little things aside for Little B! Your treasures are definite heirlooms!!! Thanks for the fun post. XO, Aimee
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty tradition! I wish I have a single thing handed down from my mother, but she left us when we were so young that everything kind of disappeared long time ago! The silver coasters are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the "hope chest" here in our part of the world. Wonder if anyone here still does that anymore. Hmmm. Love your coasters and the love that they represent to you!
ReplyDeleteOh, keep this tradition going - so may people are trashing their treasures!
ReplyDeleteDearest Daniela,
ReplyDeleteThose are so precious and it is worth it for passing them on to your daughters.
I had to grin about the sheets that don't fit the American size bedding. A problem we always had to deal with, being from the Old World.
Just did a post about our bed linens for our Dutch twin beds in the guest bedroom.
{Dutch Twin Down Duvets Altered to American Size}
Hugs to you,
Mariette