A woman at the old St. Paul boarding house in Escanaba wears a bright apron and bakes a lovely pie. (Photo courtesy of Delta County Historical Archives)

ESCANABA- A clean apron meant a new day and a fresh start.

A clean apron was a good morning hug!

Crisp, colorful and cheerful, an apron was like a work uniform ready to take on the breakfast, the oven, the kitchen, the laundry, school lunches, kisses, pep talks, prayers and an occasional date night.

In the olden days, grandma’s apron was more than just an outer garment she wore to keep her clothes clean. It was a badge of honor.

It was the mark of maturity, authority and pride. Many decades ago, most women made their own aprons. They were practical, comfortable and often a work of art.

There were party aprons for special occasions. Sunday aprons were extra pretty with scalloped edges or ruffles. Holiday aprons might have Easter flowers, harvest pumpkins or Christmas bells embroidered or printed on them.

There were cross back aprons, pinafore aprons and matching mother-daughter aprons. The cobbler’s apron was very popular with Upper Michigan pioneer women. It was roomy with big pockets to carry, recipes, wooden spoons, fresh eggs, clothes pins or the baby’s socks in them.

When my mom and aunties were preparing meals, caring for families or working in restaurants, they wore the blouse type of aprons that snapped up the fronts. Floral prints, gingham and every color under the rainbow – these aprons were a fashion statement and hard working.

Aprons always represented good things in my life. My dad had his carpenter’s apron in the basement. Mom had an array of aprons that meant cookies, bread or pies in progress. The lunch ladies at school wore aprons. The butcher up the road had a white apron, and supper was soon on the table.

Aprons worked wonders back in the day. They shielded mom from splatters, dried a toddler’s tears, polished silver and shooed the family cat from the table.

Nobody wants to be called a housewife or a homemaker anymore. Even the title of “domestic engineer” isn’t posh anymore.

But there’s a lot of power, comfort and well-being that comes with wearing that apron if only for a few hours of the day. I used to think that aprons were a granny thing until I was working full-time and being a mom full-time.

On my lunch hour, that apron kept my librarian clothes clean while I prepped the supper, loaded the crock pot, let the dog out and threw a batch of laundry in the machine.

Aprons are making somewhat of a comeback lately. The hand-stitched Amish aprons are practical and popular gifts. Personalized aprons that say your name, and Yooper aprons with a buffalo plaid are big sellers, too.

My mom had an old apron with chicken characters on it, and my favorite apron is made with the pattern of a collage of chickens!

There’s nothing old-fashioned about aprons. Start your day off wearing your favorite apron. A good meal and a good home set the table for great things!