My object is a wooden spoon which was passed down from my great grandfather. The spoon is over 50 years old and has prepared many wonderful meals. The spoon was hand carved by a local artisan out of oak wood. After my great grandparents got married in 1949, my great grandfather paid a carpenter to hand-carve the spoon as a gift to my great grandmother. After she passed in 2023, the spoon was passed down to my grandmother, who also loves to use it while she cooks. The history of the wooden spoon began hundreds of years ago when Ancient Greeks began creating kitchen utensils. The culinary arts in Czechoslovakia were an integral part of their daily lives. The history of Czechoslovakia and the wooden spoon brought the tradition of our cooking manners nowadays full circle. The ancestors on my grandfather’s side were immigrants from Czechoslovakia, bringing over Czech traditions into the family. Growing up, the use of the wooden spoon became convenient for my grandfather when learning different recipes. One of the recipes that has traveled through generations is the kolache recipe. The art of kolache making has even been passed down to me. The spoon reminds me of getting together at my great grandmother’s house to share a meal with my family members. As my family celebrates birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions, our closeness is a reminder of passing down traditions and family values. 

– Ella Bowman

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more