One of the endearing aspects of the holidays is that families often pass down treasured “heirlooms” — things, traditions and memories — that add meaning to their celebrations. They may be serious or funny; crystal or cardboard; religious or not. What makes an “heirloom” is in the eye of the beholder. For example, recent news reports featured a Michigan family that has as an heirloom a 141-year-old fruitcake.

Bakersfield Life magazine asked several readers to discuss their family heirlooms. These are their stories:

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