Raise your hand if you had a charm bracelet. Can’t you just hear the jingle jangle of family vacations, school activities, hobbies, and religious celebrations? Chances are, if you were a woman raised in the 50-70’s, you may have had a charm bracelet. According to my research, they surged post-World War II, and peaked in the early 1960’s, yet I recall their popularity in the late 60’s-early 70’s.
“The charm bracelet has evolved over the decades, but still retains its basic concept…a bracelet with personalized charms, talisman or trinkets attached to it that have a special meaning or importance to the wearer.” *
If you have a bracelet, have you looked at it lately? What does it tell about your life then? Do you have a favorite charm or perhaps one that’s more memorable?
Recently, I was cleaning out a dresser drawer, and found mine. For the next several minutes, I sat on my bed reflecting on the memories of 50 years ago.
- Three religious charms, one proclaiming “I am a Methodist”
- A flute, my high school band instrument.
- A charm of my high school
- My high school pennant
- The Wisconsin state capitol
- A couple of school awards
- The Houston Astrodome
- The Golden Gate Bridge
- A pony express rider from Nebraska
- A cactus, though I have no idea why I would have ever had that.
- My grandmother’s thimble, with her initials
And then I saw it.
- The confederate flag. Yikes!
I remember that trip to Atlanta with my folks very well, my first trip south. And of course, what was a symbol of the Deep South? The confederate flag. Oddly, what I recall the most about the trip? Lists of vegetables on every menu, especially lima beans. As a kid, I couldn’t gag down lima beans. As an adult, I don’t try.
“Early Christians wore charms in the shape of fish, often hidden in their clothing, to identify them as Christians to other Christians during the time of the Roman Empire. Likewise, Jewish people wore small charms bearing passages of Jewish law. During the Dark Ages, individuals wore charms to identify their family origin or to denote their alliance to a specific ruler, political party, or religion.” *
It shook me when I found the flag linked between the praying hands and the state capitol. What did this say about me? In 1974, it represented (to me) my trip to Georgia, no more, no less. I’ve become more enlightened since then.
My initial reaction was to keep the charm, though I would not want anyone to associate me with the symbolism it signifies. My bracelet isn’t filled with value beyond my own memories. I have no heirs that will fight over it and it will likely be available for purchase at a thrift shop in 20 years. But I’m removing the charm. It doesn’t represent who I am. And lucky for me, I found a nice charm of a lima bean that I can replace it with.
*https://historydaily.org/a-charming-history-charm-bracelets-through-the-years
A Lima bean is called a butter bean down south. I think they taste better when you call them a butter bean. A butter bean will be a great replacement on your bracelet. Lol!
I didn’t know that – thank you. But really, I have no need to try! Really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Thank you.
Good on you!
Thanks, Pat. Appreciate it.
Loved this blog!!! As you can see I still have my charm bracelet! 😃❤️ I got it when I was in the 6th grade. Mostly charms from summer family vacations, my high school charm, a baton (as I was a jr. high twirler), church choir, Hemisfair ‘68, Astroworld, Six Flags, bathtub from Hot Springs, Niagara Falls, Canada, etc. I can’t believe you have the ASTRODOME!!! 😃❤️⚾️ My team and my Dad’s favorite team! We went to many Astros games there as well as the Houston Rodeo! If you decide to part with that Astrodome charm, I would like to buy it!! So many memories on my bracelet. I remember where I got each charm. Used to wear it all the time, even throughout high school. And, it has its own special box where I keep it. I also wore it every year when I taught elementary school on “50s Day” with my rolled up denim jeans, oversized white button down shirt, saddle Oxfords, and high school letterman jacket. Thanks for taking me down Memory Lane.❤️
This is so fun. Thanks for responding!
I put the silver basket charms as I earned as a a Longaberger basket consultant years ago, on a necklace chain. Made
More sense to me. Never wear it as the silver as tarnishes and it would total pain to try to clean them
Good plan. I still love silver jewelry.
Great story as always! I still have my charm bracelet. Of course it Carries all my travels and event from child hood. My favorite charm came from my moms bracelet which is a shoe with my birthdate. She had one for each of us kids. Of course now I have and have given my granddaughter a new bracelet to add trinkets to. They now have a big story called Pandora all over the world! So the charm bracelet hasn’t died yet😃
What a special charm you’ve inherited from your mother’s bracelet. I’m glad you’ve shared yours with your grandaughter. Pandora bracelets are similar, but even those have lost their charm. Thanks for reading and responding.
Hi Pam, I have both a silver one and a gold one which carry many charms that were made from the pins of school clubs, 4-H and other awards, symbols of my Christian beliefs, vacations, etc. You motivated me to resurrect and open the cedar “Lane” keepsake box that every senior girl got as a gift from the furniture store when we graduated from 12th grade. I need to share them with my adult daughters and my granddaughters! Thanks for the memories!
Ha, I, too, had a Lane cedar chest. Yes, get out those bracelets and give them a new life! Thanks, Sue.
Pam,
I had two charm bracelets. The silver one i didn’t spend much time on, but the gold one was from my Batmitzvah. A charm with L’chaim, can’t recall the rest as i recently gave it to my 21 year old grand niece. She apparently wanted one and her grandmother had sold hers for the gold.
The gold is valuable but glad she wanted it. I have gotten rid of lots of my jewelry and some of my mom’s but no one seems to want my mom’s pearls. So i keep them for now.
Thanks. Glad you had a family member who wanted it. These are tough times for family heirlooms right now.
Thanks Pam, made me go and look for mine and like you all the memories I recalled from the many charms on it. My favorites were the photo charms of the kids when they were much much younger.
As always enjoyed your words.
Thanks, Patti. So glad you enjoyed it.