Elizabeth Miri | The Monarch Ranger
Adele Larson purchased a white satin wedding gown in downtown Chicago at a Marshall Field's department store in 1950. Little did she know, that $100 dress would be passed down her family from bride to bride for over seven decades. Eight women have been happily married in the same satin gown, and they span three generations so far.
After Adele Larson was married in the dress, she passed it to her sister Ellie for her wedding in 1953. Ellie then passed it to her younger sister Sharon in 1969. In 1982, Larson’s daughter Sue wore it at her wedding, starting the second generation of the tradition.
Ellie’s daughters Carol and Jean wore the dress in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Julie, Sharon’s daughter, wore it in 2013.
The latest bride to wear the dress is Serena, who was married at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, the same church at which Adele Larson was married 72 years ago.
Making the tradition even more special, each bride has her name and the date they were married stitched into the dress with blue thread. Although it doesn’t represent something new, Serena told Inside Edition, “My dress was my something borrowed, my something blue, [and] my something old.”
Traditions may seem like they do not matter all that much, but they connect us in so many ways. Traditions are what make up our cultures and bring us together. They keep the spirit of those who came before us and connect them with who we are today.
Rita Barreto Craig, a TEDx speaker, once said that “Traditions touch us, connect us, and they expand us.” What she means by this is that they bring people together, and bring about a sense of community.
Sometimes we will see traditions in our families as meaningless rituals we are obligated to perform. However, there is a story and a meaning behind everything we do. If we take the time to learn and appreciate them, we can be better connected to those around us.
So, what traditions do you have?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND LEARN MORE
News Sources: Inside Edition @insideedition, Good Morning America @GMA,
ABC7 News, and Upworthy @upworthy.
To watch the TEDx Talk by Rita Barreto Craig, click here.
Komentarai