This golden lock was given to me by my grandmother when I was born. My grandparents live in China, but my parents immigrated from there to the US in the early 2000s and had my brother and I in 2011 and 2013. We still follow Chinese customs, and in Chinese culture it’s traditional for a golden or silver lock to be gifted to newborns. The lock is supposed to symbolize good luck and blessings from the elders to the children. It “locks in” health, longevity, happiness, and safety, while “locking out” bad luck and misfortune. Locks also usually have a message like “May you live 100 years” or 长命百岁 (chang ming bai sui.)
My lock is coloured gold and shaped like a cloud. On one side it says 长命富贵 (chang ming fu gui) which means “live long and have good fortune,” although it is written right to left. On the other it has a snake, which represents the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, which is when I was born and the current year too. The lock can also be worn around the neck.

– NX

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant