Lately, it seems like much of the fashion directed towards younger women features a variety of cool cultural symbols. Their ornate designs make for interesting shirts, jewelry and more. But how much do you know about where these symbols come from or the meaning behind them? Some of these facts might surprise you.
1. Buddha
As the name suggests, the Buddha (or Siddhartha Gautama) was the wise man on which Buddhism was founded. Buddhism is a religion practiced largely in Asia by followers that seek Nirvana, the ultimate form of enlightenment. The word “Buddha” means “awakened one” or “enlightened one.” Buddhists follow the Noble Eightfold Path, which incorporates the virtues of right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration.
2. Hamsa
Widely recognized as the image of an open hand, the hamsa is viewed as a symbol of protection, particularly against the evil eye. It has appeared in a variety of religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, though it existed before the origins of these religions. The hamsa has also been known to represent blessings, power and strength.
3. Om
Om is a bit trickier to understand. It is closely associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, all of which are religions that originated in India and other parts of Asia. Om is a spoken mantra (you may have heard it in yoga class or during meditation), and it is intended to calm or center someone, as well as open and close prayers. Om also represents the Absolute in Hinduism.
4. Ornate skull
Though some skull designs—like ones seen on Halloween decorations—directly reflect the human skull, the skulls that are often found on clothing or jewelry are more decorative, often with bright colors, patterns or flowers. These skulls are reminiscent of the ones used to celebrate Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday dedicated to remembering loved ones that have passed away.
5. Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatchers were originally created by Native American tribes and were most notably made by the Ojibwe. They tied sinew strings together into a web that was hung over the beds of children to protect them against nightmares, and this concept and design remains today. The belief is that nightmares pass through the holes between strings while the good dreams are caught and slide down the feathers to the dreamer.
Now, the next time you wear one of these symbols, you’ll know where they come from and what they mean. Maybe this list has inspired you to adopt one of these symbols for yourself, so you can emulate the traits or meanings behind them. Either way, each symbol represents a positive ideology, so you can continue to wear them proudly.