History behind the Beads

 

As a symbol of femininity and sensuality, only the partner a woman chooses would have the honor of seeing them fully. Traditionally, women wore beads around their waist for various reasons:

• As a sign that a woman had reached marriageable age and could now have suitors
• Strung with bells, to show that a woman was still pure as at the time of marriage.
• Worn on babies during naming ceremonies, some say; to accentuate their waistlines and hips as they grow.
• As a weight measure; when gaining weight, the belt of the beads climb up and when you lose weight, it falls elegantly on the hips.
• Upon addition of precious stones, waist beads take on healing or rejuvenation qualities; depending on ailment or what needs to be enhanced (i.e. love, physic powers, balancing), various semi-precious stones can be included in the design of your waist beads.

These days, only a few people maintain the culture of adorning these beads on a daily basis, but a vast majority are likely to put them on during special occasions. Most of the significance of the tradition is also now mostly redundant.