Hamsa charm bracelet with braided red cordage (see photo)
Length 7-21cm
Red cordage, zinc alloy metal charms
Please use the comments box to indicate your choice of colour.
ABOUT THE HAMSA SYMBOL
The Hamsa (Arabic: خمسة khamsah; Hebrew: חַמְסָה, also romanized khamsa; Berber languages: tafust) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa and commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings. Depicting the open right hand with five digits, the hamsa has been used as a sign of protection throughout history, predominantly by Muslims and Jews. Its origins may lie in Ancient Egypt or Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) and may have been associated with the Goddess Tanit.
The Hamsa is also known as the Hand of Fatima after the daughter of the prophet Muhammad, the Hand of Mary, the Hand of Miriam, and the Hand of the Goddess.
As a symbol, the hamsa can carry several meanings:
* That God exists in everything
* That one is protected from evil and danger
* Representing femininity and women's sacredness
* Representing God's hand reaching down from heaven
* Representing priesthood, that one is of priestly descent
* God's willingness to help people and direct us out of struggle
The hamsa can be seen as a symbol of unity among North African and Middle Eastern peoples, worn as a prayer for Love and Protection.