As requested - a photo of my crystal necklace

@JudyEv (341416)
Rockingham, Australia
February 22, 2020 5:59pm CST
I was born in 1946 and it was usual in my area for a child to receive their first watch around the age of 12 or 13; maybe when they entered high school. This was a symbolic gift in a way, a sign of the child entering a transition period before adulthood. Watches were expensive then and not two-a-penny as they are now. They were to be treasured and admired. Another important milestone was turning 21 years of age, and there would usually be some sort of celebration at this time. Later, 18 became the ‘age of adulthood’. For my 21st birthday, we hired the local country hall and around 60 relatives and friends gathered for a dance. I received some very lovely gifts. My parents gave me a crystal necklace which I wore in Kathmandu at the Hindu wedding we attended recently. Several myLotters expressed a wish to see the necklace so here it is. Did you receive any ‘rite of passage’ type gifts when you were growing up?
40 people like this
41 responses
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
23 Feb 20
i've shared already before about the jewelry set from mother and the 2 watches from father. i had a debut party at home (age 18), just family and classmates.
10 people like this
• Philippines
23 Feb 20
@sunrisefan it was just a simple birthday party at home. we dressed up, ate, talked, laughed, danced in the living room. no ceremonies like 18 candles, etc.
3 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
23 Feb 20
You are lucky to have a debut in your time; not that I’m thinking you’re old but because the debut practice came about only in the last 2 decades if I remember it right.
4 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
23 Feb 20
@hereandthere Still you were lucky and privileged to have such a celebration.
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@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
23 Feb 20
Thank you for sharing the picture of your necklace. When I was young, it was also 21 that the girl would be considered an adult with a debut party. But now it is 18 as well maybe because so many are getting married before reaching age 21 .
7 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
In our country, it's more likely to be 'so many are living together before reaching age 21'. It's pretty sad really.
4 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv same here. I have noticed that when the social media came to fore, the tradition has changed drastically. Girls would even post the pregnancy test result and marriage is not in the picture anymore.
3 people like this
• Philippines
24 Feb 20
@Alexandoy some of the reasons i've read is because they want their child to be the ring-bearer or flower girl at their wedding. some opt for civil wedding because it's cheaper and takes less preparation.
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@rebelann (112958)
• El Paso, Texas
23 Feb 20
It's beautiful. It must catch the sun and glisten a lot. Thanks for sharing it with us.
6 people like this
@rebelann (112958)
• El Paso, Texas
23 Feb 20
I'll bet it does @JudyEv but then what doesn't look better in real life?
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@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
It looks much better in real life.
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@1creekgirl (41609)
• United States
23 Feb 20
That's lovely! I know you treasure it. My parents gave me a pearl ring when I graduated from the 8th grade.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
It sparkles more in real life. These types of gifts are very special, aren't they?
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@1creekgirl (41609)
• United States
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv They are treasures that no money can buy.
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@just4him (317138)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Feb 20
That's a lovely necklace and definitely a treasure from your younger days. I got my first watch when I was thirteen.
7 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
Myself and all my friends got watches at about that age too. Mostly when we went into high school. We were very envious of anyone who had a watch in primary school.
4 people like this
@just4him (317138)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv I know I wanted one too. I was happy to get my first one.
4 people like this
@YrNemo (20255)
23 Feb 20
When I was 4 YO, I was given a pair of real gold earrings as well as a necklace with a cross . But within days, a scammer (a neighbor who came from a family of scammers) "helped" me "putting them away" in my schoolbag for me, in case I got lost. My mother got angry with that neighbor, but she learned to never entrusted me with any valuable things again. (I was a very biddable child .)
7 people like this
• Philippines
23 Feb 20
but 4 is too young to give real/authentic jewelry
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@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
That's so sad but four is a bit young to expect a child to be wary of such people.
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@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
@hereandthere I think so too, really.
4 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
23 Feb 20
It is a lovely necklace. I started younger than you. I got a silver glass (Maybe not the right word, a "timbale" in French) for my birth, stolen in 2016 by burglars, and 1 month later for my baptism a gold chain and medal. I lost this one in a swimming pool when I was 10 or 11, and my mother was not happy.
5 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv It had my name and date of birth inscribed on it, I think it was offered for my birth, but maybe it was for the baptism. I do not really regret this one.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
Some gifts were traditional when a baby was baptised - a 'christening mug, usually silver - which sounds like it might have been similar to your timbale. How awful that it was stolen. Such things can never be replaced.
4 people like this
• China
23 Feb 20
What a delicate crystal necklace ! Over here we have coming-of-age ceremony .In ancient times,there were capping ceremony for 20 years old boy and hair-pinning ceremony for 15 years old girl.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
I'm sure all cultures and religions have these sorts of ceremonies to mark special milestones in a child's life..
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@LadyDuck (471920)
• Switzerland
23 Feb 20
This is beautiful and now I remember that my mom had one identical. I think that I have it somewhere, I have to check my jewels boxes.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (471920)
• Switzerland
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv I am sure that I have seen it when I packed all our things to move from Monte Carlo to Switzerland, I must have it.
4 people like this
• Dallas, Texas
23 Feb 20
Wow!
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@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
It sparkles more in the evenings. I wonder if you still have yours.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (107629)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Feb 20
It is very pretty
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@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
I wish now that I'd worn it more often.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121652)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Feb 20
Your necklace is very beautiful Judy! I'm glad you've taken such great care of it over the years. I received a very nice and expensive watch on my 18th birthday. No big party or celebration though, just a small family gathering on my 18th birthday.
4 people like this
• Philippines
24 Feb 20
and how did you celebrate your 21st, jeff? i agree. my nephew is on his 3rd job already (in 3 different industries). i think he only stayed 1.5 to 2 years in each job.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121652)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 20
@JudyEv Gold watches are still popular gifts for those retiring from particular jobs. At least for those people who stay at the same company for decades. It seems these days people bounce around from job to job and career to career, so I'm not sure if gold watches will still be a thing in the near future.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
So a watch was still special in your time. A gold watch was very often the gift for someone retiring after years in a particular job.
4 people like this
• Dallas, Texas
23 Feb 20
I was given a microscope at age 7 and at age 11 a telescope. My parents were kind and generous.
4 people like this
• Philippines
24 Feb 20
those are good gifts if a child likes science
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• Dallas, Texas
24 Feb 20
@hereandthere , I appreciated those gifts, and spent hours with them.
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@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
I'm sure you were thrilled with these gifts. It's lovely when parents really give some thought as to what would most please their child.
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@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
23 Feb 20
Oh my gosh Judy, that crystal necklace is so beautiful! When I graduated from high school(age-17), my parents had a home celebration for me. I received some lovely gifts, one of them was a sterling silver broach from my favorite Aunt:) My uncle gave me a used car, which made me very happy! (photo:above)
6 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
I've just posted about my 21st birthday. A used car?? I bet that did make you very happy!! And the envy of a few of your friends I guess.
5 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv I was so happy, like I had just won the lottery!
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@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
23 Feb 20
@JudyEv Thanks Judy for the background information. It is a very nice necklace. In Judaism when a boy turned 13 he became a man and he had a Bar Mitzva and a girl had a Bat Mitzva but not all had them.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Feb 20
I've heard of these celebrations. I guess most cultures have something to recognise when a person becomes considered an adult.
4 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
24 Feb 20
@JudyEv I do not know about what others do, but, I do know what we do.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160831)
• United States
23 Feb 20
At thirteen I got my first watch. And a Bible. At eighteen I was out of the house to college. At 21 I was already married. I love the crystal necklace, though.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
12 or 13 was common for a first watch among me and my peers too.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90242)
• Arvada, Colorado
23 Feb 20
I did not receive anything like this..it is lovely Judy. Only the Catholic gifts you know Communion and Confirmation and Baptism so on. Mostly rosaries or religious jewelry
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
Our boys had christening mugs, as they were called, which were gifts. And yes, also Bibles.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
23 Feb 20
It is very pretty. Mine is only one strand of uniform beads. Murano in Venis threw in a free matching bracelet, too, probably because we also bought a chandelier and other objects. My grandmother and mother each bought me rings.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
It would have been nice to have a matching bracelet.
4 people like this
• Philippines
24 Feb 20
That's a lovely crystal necklace. I've inherited a jade ring from my mom. I wear it only on certain occasions.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
Certain gifts are very special, aren't they? I'm sure your jade ring is very special.
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@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Feb 20
What a nice tradition. Lovely necklace and keepsake. I did not receive such gifts.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
Every country and locality has its traditions I guess.
3 people like this
@Nevena83 (65277)
• Serbia
23 Feb 20
Those are wonderful memories. The necklace is beautiful.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341416)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 20
Thank you. Maybe I'll get the chance to wear again one day.
3 people like this