The most important artifact in my family is a Caldero. Through the years my family has kept the
same potful which we call a “caldero.” A caldero is a big potful where we make a big amount of food but
my family most of the time makes sancocho in this caldero in the family reunions. Sancocho is similar to soup but it’s thicker and it. This caldero my grandmother bought it in a store similar to a supermarket when she was in her early twenties. This caldero it’s around 30 years old. When my grandmother died it was passed to my mom. My grandmother’s sisters sometimes borrow the caldero to make arroz con leche which is sweet rice made with milk and other kinds of sweet. The Caldero is used to make different kinds of food but the most important thing is that whatever is made on that potful is shared with the whole family. Whenever something is made the person in charge must send to the other family members houses some of the food made.

I chose this artifact because I always remember all my family united, the adults getting all the ingredients ready and cooking, and all my cousins and I running around trying to convince our mom and aunts that we know how to cook to let us help with the stuff. These have been the happiest moments of my life. Ain’t no better days when the family is all united and everything is joy. This was a difficult choice because I don’t know if this is the right idea that other people got of an artifact but, for me this is the most important artifact for my subculture which is my family. This artifact has so much importance and meaning for me and my family.

This artifact it’s important to me personally because of all the memories that it brings to me and all the good moments that my family shared because of this artifact. Culturally I know anartifact like this is an important artifact in many Dominican’s lives because Dominicans are always on family reunions and making a lot of food. Dominicans made a celebration of everything, we love these huge reunions with food, drinks and loud conversations. Moving to this country and following my traditions was easy because we get to be reunited with other family members and to meet the friends of your friends so it’s easy to keep the traditions.

The greater story that this artifact can tell about my life and my family is that we are a strong and united family. We always try to make the best out of every moment. My family has a really strong bond. And as a Dominican that’s normal because we even treat neighbors as family.

I will not be able to find a lot of background material about the artifact because my grandma died seventeen years ago, and my mom doesn’t really know the exact place where my grandma got the artifact from. There’s not much to ask and who to ask so it’ll be difficult for me to find background material.

This artifact has a large cultural and historical significance because it’s been in my family for generations and this artifact has history in my family.