In many Western cultures, Lithuania is no exception, jewelry is usually made of various precious metals and gemstones and is considered an important part of the image. However, jewelry can have more purposes, such as marking a person's social or personal status. For example, a wedding ring symbolizes eternal love, and a friendship bracelet - a close bond. In addition, there are jewelry items that express mourning or even great success. All these aspects of Western culture are well known to many of us, so it is very interesting to talk more about the meaning of jewelry in other cultures of the world.
Sahara
The Tuareg, whose largest population lives in the Sahara Desert, are a nomadic people. According to Tuareg custom, men must cover their faces with an indigo-colored cloth called a tagelmust – with this veil they protect themselves from evil spirits. Meanwhile, when a boy reaches adolescence, a Tuareg cross is passed down from father to son. It is a symbolic piece of jewelry made of silver. Each point of it represents the four parts of the world and perfectly reflects the nomadic lifestyle of the Tuareg. The latter piece of jewelry used by the Tuareg also shows that its wearer does not know in which place he will leave this world.
Lapland
Lapland, which covers parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, is home to the indigenous Sami people. This nomadic tribe has been making interesting and unique leather jewelry for over 5,000 years. Because they traveled a lot, they made their jewelry from the skins of the reindeer they herded. Traditional Sami leather bracelets are often simple, braided or decorated with silver thread. However, these days, Sami bracelets have also begun to be produced commercially, so this style of bracelet is available not only in Lapland, but also around the world.
Myanmar
In Myanmar, the Padaung tribe lives, whose women are famous for their very long necks. However, such a neck is not a natural feature – it is a consequence of wearing numerous gold necklaces. Representatives of this tribe wear necklaces as a means of cultural identity. At the age of just five, every girl of the Padaung tribe receives her first gold necklace, which is supplemented with new ones over the years, until the length of the Padaung women's necks reaches as much as 38 cm.
China
In China, jade has been traditionally considered the most valuable stone for over 7,000 years. Jewelry made from it is usually more expensive than jewelry made from gold or silver. Jade is highly valued in Chinese culture for its beauty and durability. For this reason, the Chinese have long considered it to be a perfect symbol of the balance of Yin and Yang ( Yin-Yang ). In addition, the Chinese believed that jade jewelry helps protect a person from evil spirits, misfortunes and various failures. Although such customs date back to ancient times, jade still plays an important role in the lives of the Chinese people and is highly valued.
Greece
In Greece and Cyprus, beaded jewelry called "komboloi" has been produced since the mid-20th century. These balls also have another name - anxiety balls. They can be considered the Greek equivalent of stress balls. These balls can be played with to pass the time or to reduce perceived stress. Most often, such beads are colored and made of glass or amber. Initially, "komboloi" were used by Greek monks to avoid getting lost in their prayers. However, over time, these beads lost their religious meaning.
More interesting details about the unique symbolism of jewelry you can read it in our other article .