Hearth facts for kids
A hearth (say "har-th") is a special area, usually made of brick or stone. It's like a fireplace or an oven built into a home. People used hearths for cooking food and for heating their homes.
For a long time in history, the hearth was the most important part of a house. It was the center of family life because it provided warmth and a place to prepare meals. The word "hearth" comes from the Latin word focus, which means "center" or "heart." This is why we still use the word "focus" today to talk about the main point of something.
What is a Hearth Today?
In many modern homes, the word "hearth" often refers to the part of a fireplace that you can see. This usually includes the flat area at the bottom of the fireplace opening and the floor directly in front of it. This area is often decorated with tiles or stone. It's still a cozy spot, even if it's not always used for cooking anymore!
Images for kids
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Middle Paleolithic hearths at Darai Rockshelter, west Zagros.
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Late medieval tile hearth and associated floor
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Japanese traditional hearth (Irori)
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A cauldron over a fire in William Blake's illustrations to his mythical Europe a Prophecy first published in 1794. This version of the print is currently held by the Fitzwilliam Museum
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Dutch style kitchen hearth in Hofwijck mansion, Voorburg, Netherlands.
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This 1889 cookbook has an illustration of the hearth in the house of John Howard Payne, who wrote the best-selling song Home! Sweet Home!
