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My Grandmother's crucifix
My grandmother keeps a crucifix made of ivory and gold. It has a Christ figure represented with filigree and so on the border. The crucifix represent my grandfather’s presence, here with us. My grandfather passed away forty years ago and next Tuesday we are going to remember him with a mass and a family dinner, tasting pozole, his favorite plate. Let’s go back to our topic; the crucifix came into our family as a way to say “ thank you ” from an old man who showed respect, admiration and truly love to our grandfather, because his generous heart. Grandpa loved to help others sincerely, and that was the reason why he was love so much in town. The crucifix is two hundred years old, maybe, because it belonged to the old man’s grandmother… That crucifix was the first jewel that my grandpa gave to my grandmother, she used to wearing it in special events, like weddings, baptisms, Christmas, birthdays and of course, anniversaries. An extraordinary handmade piece of art, which represents kindness and gratitude. It became a tradition to wear it during wedding ceremonies in our family, but only by my grandmother’s daughters and their daughters. So wearing the crucifix in your wedding day, become a representation of my grandfather’s presence. Three years ago I had the privilege and opportunity of been the first granddaughter to wear the crucifix during my wedding day. Since then, only one of my cousins has become engaged, and now I am so happy that the tradition will continues whit her. Another tradition that was created when I got married, was for my grandmother to order a handmade traditional veil, from Guadalajara Jalisco, that will pass from cousin to cousin as a blood bond that will tie us like sisters and make us remember where we come from, and also remember our grandmother. Now the crucifix is locked safely in my grandmother’s vault and now, it only be used by the future brides. There is a reason why only the daughters of my grandmother’s daughters use the aforementioned traditional pieces and that is because my grandma thinks that as a matter of fact the flesh of her flesh and the blood of her blood, and the offspring of her sons might or might no be her actual descenders. I do not know if that is a good way to approach things, but there is at least a bite of true in that saying.
a very interesting read
This was a very interesting read. Having come from a Roman Catholic family – and having gone to Catholic School myself, a part of me has an appreciation for these things. Not a religious appreciation – but an appreciation of another kind, namely in the remembrance of my own grandparents. Because I grew-up in a home full of religious symbolism, with religious objects of one kind or another in every room. And it reminds me of those things – which in turn, reminds me of my grandparents.