What Is the Significance of a Hope Chest?

Hope chests are chests in which a young woman stores the items she hopes to use one day in her household upon marriage. Though the tradition has become somewhat forgotten in the last 50 years, there has been a small resurgence in interest and some women are once again picking up the tradition for themselves and their daughters.

History

While there are no documented beginnings of the contemporary hope chest, the tradition itself can be traced to Medieval Europe and the tradition of providing a new bride with a dowry. Parents who were unable to supply their daughters with a substantial dowry collected handmade household items and clothing to give them upon the event of their marriage. The tradition was brought to the United States by European immigrants, where it flourished until the early 20th century.

Contents

The contents of a hope chest include special items that a young, unmarried woman hopes to bring to her new household once she is married. Popular paraphernalia found in a hope chest include items such as bedding, quilts, family heirlooms and china. Typically, the items to be stored in the hope chest will either be saved for her by an older family member or collected herself once she reaches her teen years.

Significance

A hope chest represents a young woman's desire to have a happy, married life. The items within the chest are those she hopes to use in her new household as she leaves youth and enters her adult life. Many times, the items in the chest are passed down from generation to generation. This gives the chest not only a hopeful aspect, but one of tradition and remembrance as well.

Types

While there's no specific style that is required for a hope chest, cedar chests have long been the popular choice. This style of chest became popular when Lane Cedar Chest Co. began advertising their surplus ammunition boxes as "Hope Chests" during World War II. However, in lieu of an expensive cedar chest, many families have substituted the chest with other containers, including unused dresser drawers.

Today

The tradition of keeping a hope chest for young, unmarried women has waned in popularity since the 1950s. With more women choosing to marry later in life or not at all, many women begin their households long before they seriously contemplate marriage. However, there is a growing resurgence in interest in the tradition of keeping a hope chest among traditionalists and those seeking to return to societal rituals of the past.