Consider a Hope Chest This Christmas

At one time or another, you've probably heard the term "Hope Chest", and most of us know it's some sort of wooden box. The term itself didn't become commonplace until the early years of the 20th century, however, the use of a chest for packing one's worldly possessions has been around for centuries. In the days when it was proper for a bride to offer her dowry to her husband, her dowry was most often packed inside her Hope Chest. These chests were most often constructed of cedar or pine wood, not only because of the wood's beauty, but for the aromatic smell of the wood which deterred moths, spiders and other undesirable inhabitants. The natural oils and sap of these woods also helped to keep the contents dry by being somewhat water and mold resistant.

Tradition dictated that there were certain things that a young bride should prepare for her Hope Chest, that she would use to begin her own household when her hope of marriage came true. Most of the items a young woman would put into her Hope Chest were handmade and practical. Bed linens, table cloths, and quilts were almost always included. Some women also added cooking pots, tableware and flatware, and household items such as a metal flat iron, coffee pot, and scrub board. Also included might be family mementos, recipes, photographs, books and trinkets. In most cases, the mother would get a young girl started by teaching her to sew and giving her what were called "Samplers", or small squares of starched cotton cloth on which to practice embroidery.

As the times changed, the tradition of filling a Hope Chest has fallen to the wayside. Maybe this is due in part to the fact that our daughter's aren't as marriage minded as our Grandmothers had been. Our daughters now concentrate on getting accepted into College, landing their first job, and moving out to their first apartment… usually as a single person. But regardless of our daughter's future marital plans, should the tradition of the Hope Chest have fallen to the wayside? What made us think she needed a husband to need a Hope Chest? Doesn't she still need to decorate a home, prepare meals, and begin her own collection of family heirlooms?

The cost for a good quality cedar or pine Hope Chest can range between as little as $200 and as expensive as over $1,000. I recommend you check your local area first for places that manufacture Hope Chests, often called Quilt Boxes and Cedar Chests. This would save you the added cost of shipping if you can find them locally. If not, there are several manufacturers on-line and you can find them with a simple search for "hope chest" on any of the major search engines. You can also find construction plans for making your own if you have woodworking tools.

Items for the modern Hope Chest should be items that any young person leaving the nest would need, such as a toaster, a blender or juicer, towels, linens and blankets, pillows, dishes, cook ware and bake ware, flat ware, glasses and stem ware. I also recommend you start her collection of family heirlooms by including family pictures, antiques or mementoes that you want her to pass to her own children - someday. If your daughter hasn't left home yet, you can encourage her to add things to her Hope Chest as well. A Hope Chest can make a wonderful gift even for an adult daughter. It's never too late to start the tradition!