Every year, the turkeys return.
Like the handful of swallows that still return to San Juan Capistrano each spring, our family's pair of turkey salt and pepper shakers appear each fall, perched in the passage between our kitchen and dining room, radiating fall vibes.
They appear because, every year, we take them out of a box in our crawl space. Each one is the size of a baseball. We have never put salt or pepper on them (so you could say they are flightless and tasteless birds). Instead, since our friend Maria gave them to us about 20 years ago, we use them as a sign of the season, a symbol like the wreath of leaves on the front door and the little pumpkins that my wife places here and there.
Not all families put out special tokens to mark the seasons, I know, but in many homes this is a traditional ritual. Often, these traditions go far beyond symbols of faith, such as Christmas trees and Hanukkah menorahs, and can be traced back to a dear friend or relative.
Anyway, we want to see what you have. In the form below, share a photo of a beloved item that you hide away most of the time but bring back every year, whether for a holiday season or something else. We may include their photos and stories in a future article.
