Ancient tribes around the globe used bracelets and arm bangles to please the gods, to accentuate the beauty and movement of the arm, and to denote social status. Today, these ancient cultural pieces have made a comeback, once again highlighting the beauty of the arm and its movements.
Tribal jewelry is representative of a history of
cultures with deep spiritual and social significance. Such significance can be
seen throughout all tribal jewelry regardless of which part of the world it
hails from. It is as old as the ancient civilizations of Africa and as modern as the
newest fashion trends of Europe.
African Roots
In ancient Africa, bracelets were worn to accentuate a dancer’s
arm movements during tribal celebrations and spiritual gatherings. They were worn
to honor and please the gods. Ancient hunters believed that wearing arm bangles
would give them strength and favor from the gods during the hunt. Those of
great wealth wore a lot of jewelry and large bangles. Bracelets and bangles
revealed their social status, their family, and their tribe. The affects of
ancient African beliefs can be seen throughout modern jewelry.
The Vikings’ Contribution
In Ancient Russia, Vikings, among others, used bracelets and bangles to
indicate social status and to accentuate beauty. Jewelry was also used in
trading with other cultures as a form of money. Tribal jewelry of Vikings was
carried to many cultures as they traveled throughout Europe and into the New World.
Celtic Beliefs
In the British Isles, bangles were often used to heighten beauty and
denote wealth and status. In certain religions, bangles were used to express a
person’s spiritual status and place within the organization. Certain materials
were believed to harness the healing power of the gods and were made into
bracelets to be worn by one who needed healing or by the one performing the
healing.
Animal Spirits Honored
Native American tribes used bracelets to bring out a woman’s beauty. Hunters in
some tribes wore arm bangles made of animal bones along with animal fur to hide
themselves from the spirits of the animals they hunted. During celebrations and
religious ceremonies bracelets and other jewelry were worn to accentuate the
movement of the arms and to produce rhythmic sounds as they called on the gods
for favor.
The Middle East
In the Middle East bracelets were worn by dancers to create rhythmic sounds and
to emphasize movement. Women were given bracelets for beauty, while men wore
bracelets and bangles to disclose their wealth and social status. They were
also used for trading purposes.
Tribal jewelry comes, literally, from all over the world. Although the most
notable and most reproduced come from Africa and Native American tribes, tribal
jewelry also hails from parts of the Middle East, South America, Russia, and
the British Isles. While each region and each tribe had its own particular uses
for bracelets and other jewelry, they all had some uses in common like
spirituality, social status, and beauty.
While many regions still hold to their roots where the use of jewelry is
concerned, many more today wear tribal bangles for beauty and fashion. Ancient
designs are made into modern works of art to be used and displayed fashionably
in many parts of the world. Whether it is worn to accentuate an outfit or to
highlight the beauty of the wrist and arm, tribal bangles are a popular fashion
accessory today.
In every ancient civilization where jewelry was part of the culture, bracelets
were used in spiritual dances to represent and honor gods and to heighten movement.
Socially, bracelets were uses, along with other jewelry, to reveal social
status at a glance. Today, tribal bracelets are commonly used by the fashion
industry to heighten the beauty of a woman’s arms and wrists and to accessorize
an outfit.
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