| Charm bracelets have a long history of | | | | With high illiteracy and ignorance, the average |
| superstitions. From Ancient Egypt to Victorian | | | | person was easily influenced by the will of their |
| England. In the sixties and seventies, the charm | | | | more educated Christian leaders. Pagan rituals |
| bracelet became popular, but charm bracelets had | | | | were linked to the powers of darkness or |
| actually been around for thousands of years | | | | witchcraft. Fearful Christians became obsessed |
| before the popularity boom. Amulets or Charms | | | | with mythical signs of evil: dangerous spirits, |
| were hung from bracelets, a sort of superstitious | | | | goblins, trolls, and imps, to mention a few. Rabbits, |
| collection of usually silver or gold animals, hearts, | | | | which habitually play in the moonlight, soon |
| and other lucky symbols. To most people it was a | | | | became misinterpreted as a disguised witches. |
| fad, but even today there are those who believe | | | | Witches were believed to use rabbits in their spells |
| amulets or charms possess some form of | | | | and potions. As a result, Christians quickly adopted |
| supernatural protective power. The word amulet | | | | the rabbit's foot as a protective talisman. The |
| is derived from "hamala," an Arabic word meaning | | | | rabbit's foot was usually carried by hand, but |
| "to carry." The hamala also refers to the necklace | | | | smaller versions were attached to the charm |
| on which faithful Moslems hang their Korans. | | | | bracelet. Even today a number of charms |
| However, it is not just an Islamic tradition. Many | | | | symbolize good luck. Tiny gold rabbits are also a |
| other cultures have similar practices and beliefs. | | | | popular addition to the modern charm bracelet. |
| The charm bracelet dates back to 5000 BC. The | | | | Early Christians adopted other pagan symbols of |
| Ancient Egyptians adorned their bracelets with the | | | | luck. An iron horseshoe with the opening facing |
| ankh, a life symbol, and the eye of Horus, their | | | | heaven was readily guaranteed to ward off evil. |
| sun god. Like many cultures, they believed the | | | | Even teeth, or animal parts were used. A practice |
| amulets gave them some protection from evil. | | | | dating back many thousands of years. |
| Even early Christians wore a copy of St. John's | | | | Birthstones, coral, coins, rings, stones, and the |
| Gospel or a cross on a necklace, or put a copy of | | | | well-known St. Christopher were and still are used |
| the Lord's Prayer in their shoes. Christianity | | | | today along with many other charms, such as |
| brought about a new era of amulets and | | | | angels, or animal totems. Charms are still believed |
| subsequent charm bracelets. When the old Celtic | | | | to ward off evil and bring good luck to the person |
| religion became unpopular in the Dark Ages, the | | | | who is wearing it. |
| church dubbed usually innocent pagans as witches. | | | | |