“Memory Jugs” are containers—pots, bottles, jars—onto which small everyday objects such as keys, coins, photographs, jewelry, and so on are attached. Some are covered with gold or silver paint, while others are left as they are so that each attached object remains clearly recognizable. The origin of these “Memory Jugs” can be found in African American communities in the southern United States. These objects do not date back further than the early 20th century.
Researchers do not agree on their origins: some argue that they were intended as personal memorials, others that they served as grave markers, and still others that they began as a pastime unrelated to commemoration. These containers have sometimes been found on graves. Some believe their form was influenced by the Bakongo culture of Central Africa, brought to America by enslaved people. In Bakongo culture, there is a belief that people are connected to the spirit world through water; graves are often decorated with containers holding water—such as jugs, vases, or shells—as a way of helping the spirit of a deceased person reach the afterlife. “Memory Jugs” may therefore have emerged from the combination of these traditions into a new form of memorial.
ANONYMOUS . usa (03) . “memory jugs”
