A bracelet is an article of jewelry which is worn around the wrist.Bracelets can be manufactured from leather, cloth, plastic or metal,and sometimes contain rocks, wood, and/or shells. Bracelets are alsoused for medical and identification purposes, such as allergy braceletsand hospital patient-identification tags.
Cultural significance
The history of Egyptian bracelets is as old as 5000 BC. Startingwith materials like bones, stones and woods to serve religious andspiritual interests. From the National Geographic Society, the ScarabBracelet is one of the most recognized symbols of ancient Egypt. Thescarab represented rebirth and regeneration. Carved scarabs were wornas jewelry and wrapped into the linen bandages of mummies. Myth told ofthe scarab god, Khepri, pushing the sun across the sky.
In Latin America, Azabache Bracelets are worn to protect againstthe Mal de ojo, or evil eye. The evil eye is believed to result ofexcessive admiration or envious looks by others. Having newborn babieswear an azabache (a gold bracelet or necklace with a black or red coralcharm in the form of a fist), is believed to protect them from the evileye.[1]
In Bulgaria there is a tradition called Martenitsa which sometimesinvolves tying a red and white string around the wrist to please BabaMarta to make spring come sooner.
In some parts of India, the number and type of bangles worn by a woman denotes her marital status. [2]
Taken in the plural, bracelets is often used as slang for handcuffs.