Red Bracelet: luck and protection
Howdy!
Gosh, we are now going on 9 years since we moved from Texas to the little town of Cotacachi, Ecuador nestled between 2 volcanos high in the Andes mountains. I was first introduced to the little red bracelet custom after a La Mirage massage treatment. The tiny bracelet was tied to my left wrist while I lay on the massage table. The left wrist is closer to the heart, and this side of the body has more emotional value cause of the proximity to the heart. I learned that the red bracelet’s meaning varies slightly in different cultures but nowadays it is almost always used as a symbol of luck and protection when worn around the wrist. It is believed to protect the wearer from harm and bring good luck. In some cultures, the red thread is also worn as a symbol of faith in their spiritual beliefs.
No one ever told me that I should never take the bracelet off until it literally just fell off. So, I have not been compliant out of ignorance. I now have a wide selection of red bracelets but from now on I only will keep my favorite one on my wrist until it does fall off. When it does fall off I can replace it with a new one as a reminder of happy memories.
Recently, I began to research what religion was tied to the red bracelets. What I learned is the significance of wearing the red bracelet can be seen in several different religions for example Buddhism, Hinduism Judaism, and, Christianity.
In the United States, the red string began to grow popular in the 1990s. Celebrities began wearing them as they joined Philip Berg’s “Kabbalah Center.”
Some of the traditional benefits the red string bracelet is said to bless us with:
- Positive energies, gaining a closer connection with the Holy Spirit
- Success, prosperity, and God’s blessings (“good luck”)
- Overall happiness and harmony
- Protection from the “evil eye” and witchcraft from external sources
- Protection from dark forces and negative energies from within
- Protection from negative thoughts and misfortunes both from others and from self
The most common scripture referenced in relation to the scarlet string is likely Genesis 38:37-30:
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, ‘This came out first.’ And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, ‘How hast thou broken forth? this breach is upon thee: therefore, his name was called Pharez.’ And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.”
Another source of scripture is in Joshua 2. In the Book of Joshua, Rahab saves the Israelite spies. She uses a scarlet thread in her window as a sign that she may be spared when the Israelites attack the city of Jericho (Joshua 2:12-22). This is very reminiscent of the scarlet bracelet being protection.
“Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.” -Joshua 2:18
I think wearing the red bracelet is a daily reminder of trying to be the best that you can be each day and in turn the form of protection surrounds you.
Maybe you might want to make your own red bracelets.
