THINK #1 | Why is a bracelet not called a wristlet?
An anklet - worn around your wrist and called an anklet. If we follow that same analogy, why is a bracelet not called a wristlet? The origin of the term 'bracelet' is though to have come from the Greek word 'brachile' which means 'of the arm'. Fast forward a few years, the Old French word 'bracel' descended from 'brachile'. My trusty mate, Google shows that the word 'bracelet' has Latin origins from the word 'bracchium' which later evolved to the French word 'bras' and then to the late Middle English word... 'bracelet'. The term 'bracelet' is also thought to have originated from the word 'brace' or 'bracer', which were pieces of armor protecting the wrists and forearms of archers and warriors. They were called 'bracers' because the added extra support to brace against the incoming force of an attack. The suffix 'let' or 'ette' typically denotes something similar, but smaller. Since a bracelet is only a small band when compared to bracers, which covered most of the forearm, the term 'bracelet' seems fitting. The Merriam Webster Dictionary notes the first use of the word 'bracelet' in the 1500s, but the anklet was a later invention and was not created until the 1800s. This gave plenty of time for language to evolve, and so the anklet was literally named for its purpose. There are different types of bracelets such as bangles, boot bracelets, and handcuffs, but in recent year that has been a reasonable increase in newer types of bracelets such as slap bracelets, sports bracelets and yes, friendship bracelets. Bracelets also vary culture to culture and have been used for different purposes in history. DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRACELETS IN DIFFERENT CULTURES Egyptian Bracelets (as early as 5000 BCE) The Scarab Bracelet is one of the most well-recognised symbols of Ancient Egypt. Made out of materials such as wood, bones, and stones to serve the religious and spiritual interest, the scarab was born to represent rebirth and regeneration. Martenitsi/Martis In Bulgaria, the practice called Martenitsi involved tying a red and white string around the wrist in order to please Baba Marta, a mythical figure who brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring, for spring to come quicker. A similar tradition exists in Greece called Martis, which involves weaving a bracelet from a red and white string on the first day of March and wearing it till the end of summer. It is considered to help protect the wearer's skin from the strong Greek sun. The white color first symbolized man, the power light solar zone. Later, under the influence of Christian mythology, it began to indicate integrity and virginity – white is the color of Christ. Red represents the woman and health: it is a sign of blood, conception, and birth. In ancient times women’s wedding dresses were red. The martenitsa comes in all shapes and sizes - from building packages to strings on a newborn's arm. Children usually compete who will get the most. People wear martenitsa for a certain period, the end of which usually is connected with the first signs of spring -bird storks. Some people then tie their martenitsa to a tree, others place it under a rock and based on what they find there the next morning guess what kind of a year this one would be. INDIA In some parts of India, wearing bangles can denote the marital status of a woman, and in some religions such as the Sikh religion, a bracelet, called the "Kara" is one of the mandatory articles worn by followers of the religion. These are called the "Five Virtues". Many South Asians also observe Raksha Bandhan, an annual rite centered around the tying of a thread, talisman, or amulet on the wrist as a form of ritual protection. The protection is offered principally by sisters to brothers, but also by priests to patrons, and sometimes by individuals to real or potential benefactors. LATIN AMERICA In Latin America, Azabache Bracelets are worn to protect against the Mal de Ojo, or evil eye. The evil eye is believed to result of excessive admiration or envious looks by others. Having newborn babies wear an aza Bache (a gold bracelet or necklace with a black or red coral charm in the form of a fist), is believed to protect them from the evil eye