Charm bracelets have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians who believed they would keep them safe from evil and increase their prosperity. They also carried charms to ensure the gods knew who they were when they entered the after life. The early Christians worm a fish shaped charm as an identification for fellow Christians and during the Dark Ages charms were worn to identify both religious and political affiliations. Knights in the Middle Ages also believed that charms could help to protect them in battle and almost everyone wore charms to ward off evil and to increase luck.
By the time of the Renaissance, with more widespread education and a decrease in superstition wearing charms as talismans faded although it was still popular with the poorer people ,who were less well educated and consequently more superstitious. Although the wearing of charms as talismans faded, wearing them as jewelry items became more prevalent and was given a boost in England by the fondness of Queen Victoria for charm bracelets. Wearing charms on bracelets became the height of fashion and certainly gave the jewelry makers plenty of work producing charms made from gems for the rich and glass and baser metals for the poorer members of society.
Later in the twentieth century a further boost to the wearing of charm bracelets happened during the second world war. Soldiers returning from exotic locations brought back beads and trinkets to their girlfriends and craftsmen began incorporating these into charm jewelry that they could wear. Since then the wearing of charm bracelets has continued to grow into the popular fashion it is in the present day.
Today many people wear gold and silver charm jewelry of many different designs from modern Disney charms to the ancient, but still popular ankh. Medical students give Caduceus Charm Jewelry as graduation gifts and many people wear charms of the saints.
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