Dowry
Dowry is the collection of wealth and possessions accumulated by a person throughout their life which they are bringing into a future marriage. Both men and women have dowries. After marriage the dowries of the bride and groom are combined and make up the initial wealth of the family.
Dowry Chest
In most families the dowry is kept in a regular wooden chest, which looks no different from any other chest. In wealthier families, especially the noble ones, a special dowry chest is bought when a child is born. Such a chest has the family's coat of arms or a symbol of one of the parents' jobs as well as the child's name.Offerings to the dowry
It is customary that for the first 5-10 years of a person's life their parents add valuable objects to the dowry chest. After that time it is the person's role to expand their dowry. The more they accumulate, the more wealth they will have in their independent life.
Related Ethnicities
A nice culture-aspect, and I like the equality.
Too low they build who build beneath the stars - Edward Young