It’s an old habit that I remember from my Oma, one that she probably learned from her Oma. Tucked inside every purse is one Castanea (I say Chestnut, Penfold says Conker).
Last week Jen Lemen from Shutter Sisters asked:
Do you have a tricket, a charm, a tiny thing on your dresser, on your windowsill, that makes you a little bit stronger, that leaves you a little more happy?
I’m not sure if my chestnuts are meant to bring health, prosperity, fortune or love but one travels with me wherever I go. My purses and pockets are always filled with plane, train, concert and bus tickets but somewhere in the mess is always a chestnut, reminding me of my maternal roots.
When my mother passed away she left behind a stunning collection of bags and purses, some of which were left behind from her mother. Without fail, inside each purse was a forgotten collection of tickets from their travels plus one predictable, chestnut treasure.
Like many family quirks and traditions, I never really stopped to think about why. Thanks, Jen!
I think mine is Piglet. http://myoldbear.blogspot.com/2008/10/piglet.html
Coincidence? According to the great Google, Piglet’s favorite food is “haycorns” – not quite a chestnut but … x
isn’t there a game called “conkers”? love the idea of a talisman… i don’t think i have one…. unless my “lucky travel underwear” coungs?
that’d be “counts”…
So does your lucky underwear make you stronger or keep you happy?
You just reminded me of something from my younger years — I once read somewhere that Sophia Loren always wears something red for good luck. I thought she was so fabulous so for years I only wore red underwear …
There are ‘sweet chesnuts’ and ‘conkers’ – completely different animals. That is a ‘sweet chestnut’ – don’t listen to Penfold ….. he knows nothing.
This doesn’t in any way detract from the fact that you and your forebears are barking mad of course ….. which must be a relief ….
Somehow I knew you’d know the difference! But what’s a horse chestnut??
And yes, a HUGE relief … normal is overrated.
It’s a REALLY BIG chestnut. Squirrels use them for plowing extra deep nutty depositories.
DP – it’s a conker you plank. Sweet chestnuts are the ones you eat – these are the size of golf balls (the ones you put shoe laces through and whack idiots with).
Peabrain, listen to your tiny-weeny one. That’s a conker. The edible ones are sweet chestnuts, smaller and come out of a case mostly in twos or threes, with lots of little fairly fine spines, like a tiny hedgehog.
The conker is a horse chestnut, larger, with a case that is mainly smooth with spikes, like a medieval mace i.e. weapon. It’s poisonous.
Here endeth. x
Thank you Mumsy. Stoopid Dad.
Stuuultus est sicut stuuuultus facit…
Run, Forest, run …
I had no idea the Papersufer family was so into their chestnuts, er conkers, er … aw nuts.
well. that was entertaining and informative.
so you’re saying they’re all nuts?
Actually I think they’re saying we’re all nuts …
& they ward off spiders…
Clearly they don’t ward off spiders in this house! I almost jumped out of my skin this morning at the sight of a particularly gruesome long-legged beast in the shower … *shiver*
awesome…
i pick up rocks….usually agates. pretty sure if i went through all the bags in my closet(s)….each one would have a small stone. (and i could probably tell where i found each & every one.) yikes!
Hmmm, all these conkers and rocks may explain why women’s bags are always so heavy …
[...] flickr Skip to content « Wandering Castaneas [...]
That’s definitely a conker – why won’t anyone listen to me?
[Please note - I have said nothing about the explanation for the weight of men's bags which quite frankly is doing my 'ed in ...... tee hee]
Hmmm, best leave that one as an unsolved mystery …