Originating from the Latin word subvenire - to come to mind, a souvenir an object a person aquires for the memories associated with it.
A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the owner as a memento of a visit, place, circumstance or relationship.
The object may have intrinsic value or simply be a symbol of past experience.
Its function is to store and stimulate memories.
Without the owner's input, the symbolic meaning is invisible and can not be articulated.