Show us: What’s special about you that you only bring once a year?

Every year, the turkey comes back.

Like the handful of turkeys that still return to the San Juan capasteros each spring, our family’s turkey salt and pepper shakers appear each fall, standing in the path between our kitchen and dining room, spreading fall jaws.

They appear because every year, we pull them out of a box in our crawl space. Each one is about the size of a baseball. We never put salt or pepper in them (so you can say they are flightless and tasteless birds). Instead, since our friend Mary gave them to us about 20 years ago, we use them as a sign of the season, a symbol like the carpet of leaves on the front door and the little pumpkins my wife stores here and there.

I know that not every family brings special symbols to mark the seasons, but in many families, it is a time of respect. Often, these traditions reach far beyond symbols of faith such as the Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah, and may be traced to a treasured friend or relative.

However, we want to see what you have. In the form below, share a photo of a beloved item that you hide away for a long time but bring back every year for a spell, whether for the holiday season or something else. We may feature your photos and stories in a future article.