2009Ethnological Treasure - Chest - First Day Cover

Shrine is a traditional item made to protect its content. It is hard, often bounded and decorated box in which the laundry, different documents and other valuables, in one word “treasure”, are kept. Traditionally engraved or painted with different floral motifs or abstract shapes. The bride’s shrine served as a storehouse for clothes – the equipment that the girl was carrying into the house of the future husband. The shrine, which were brought into the grandfather’s house by grandmothers, were later used for preservation of family values, pictures and children’s letters who are disbanded all around the world in search for better life. Associations that shrine awakes are related to the family, home, careful and unselfish gained treasures. Its meaning today is symbolic – it represent an item that is related to feeling of preciousness and value, and it is usually presented in private family collections or among the treasure of museum. The Shrines are not only our connection to the family history, they are connection with the entire civilization and cultural heritage.