Traditional Protective child amulets

Protective child amulets
Among special children apotropaic amulets almost all over the world are rattles or other noisy and ringing items driving out evil spirits. The Indians of the Americas used in this role amulets – rattles – dried gourd with dry seeds in them. In Russia – dried poppy heads and woven from birch bark toys, emitting a rustling sound. The descendants of the ancient tintinnabutum – equipped with bell suspension, depicting men with a huge phallus, suspended on a cradle throughout Europe.
In Central Asia, the bells were worn on a chain around kids’ neck; silver, bronze, copper suspension with bells became so familiar to all of us modern plastic rattle in the form of beads for strollers. Many apotropes were put to the newborn at the bottom of the crib or bassinet. In Europe over the cradle hung bells, horns and Fig signs (Italy, Spain), shells, cowries, and under the pillow put mole foot or claw of big animal, the rooster spurs, horns of black kid, scarab, brush (counting its “hair” distracted the witches from the child), a sharp object – a knife, scissors (the evil forces stumbled on them); amulet made of wax Easter candles.
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Beautiful brooch depicting Frog on a leaf, colored stones and diamonds in yellow gold. Frog inspired jewellery

Frog inspired jewellery
Traditionally, in many nations frog played the role of amulets and talismans of fertility, preservation of sexual power. Dried frogs even today serve as a home wards in South-East Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand. In China, where the frogs are called “heavenly chicken”, their figures are made of jade, as talisman of long life and wisdom. In Latin America, the frogs are considered fore mothers, and therefore protectors of all human spirit.
Many peoples associated the frog, and even more so toads, with a number of unpleasant properties. In Chinese tradition, the frog symbolizes the moon “Yin”. The spirit of frog from Qing Sheng Island is associated with healing and success in business. The “frog in the well” refers to a silly person. In European folklore toads were associated with witches as the source of the ingredients for magical potions, and sometimes had their own magical properties. The Moche of ancient Peruvian culture tailless frogs were among the revered animals and often appeared in works of art. Panama Legend says that frog brings luck to those who saw the Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki). In a variant of this legend is said that, by dying, the frog turns into gold mascot.

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Azza Fahmy Diamond Crescent Star ring, 18-carat gold, sterling silver, diamonds. Sun and Moon sacred power

Sun and Moon sacred power
Among the most ancient cults in the history of mankind is the worship of Sun and Moon. Although the cult of the stars, endowing nature and human with fertility, cleansing force is international, it received powerful development in ancient Egypt, Assyria, Urartu in all forms and kinds of variations of solar and lunar characters. The broadest dissemination of amulets in a realistic image of the Sun and Moon were widespread in Egypt, in particular, crescent – a sign of Isis – served as an amulet for women and children.
To Moon Amulet belongs early medieval Scandinavian and Russian “lunnitsa” – covered with beading and gold, silver crescent pendants, included in the necklace; crescents horns up or down, are often found in ancient Israel and Iran.
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Gold Acorn Vintage brooch. Magic Plants in Jewellery

Magic Plants in Jewellery
Any modern or vintage brooch with floral motif performs both functions – a decorative and an amulet. Considered the most ancient jewelry, amulets included onion, garlic, pepper, seeds and fragrant herbs. A huge number of plants endowed with magical properties, especially spicy, with characteristic odor. Traditionally, tufts of grass hang on the walls of the house, barns and stables.
Acorn, in particular, was a symbol of fertility and immortality, because from it grows a mighty oak tree, which can live for centuries. Anciently prized for potential power, acorn became a symbol of rebirth, perseverance and courage. In ancient cultures people perceived acorn as a talisman and amulet against evil spirits – from lightning strikes, natural and human disasters.
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Carnival lady. Mask Symbolic Meaning. Behind the mask

Mask Symbolic Meaning
According to Oscar Wilde, give a man a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
Noteworthy, mask is unnatural for an animal, but a natural for humans, a product of his contradictory inner world and the ability to be creative. Very often people wear masks to hide who they really are or to do something that they would never do open face. “He wears a mask” – we say about a dishonest, insincere person.
Known since ancient times, mask was the main attribute of various magical rituals, rites of burial, and the sacraments. Mask appears in a different guise of spirits and demons, hides specific human traits, remains unrecognized and misleading – such goals pursued a man wearing a mask.
In ancient Greece, Rome, Renaissance Italy, China and Japan, there were theatrical masks, originated in the ancient mysteries. At the carnivals people liked to change places: Heaven to hell, the permitted to forbidden, the servants to the Lord.
From the XIV century, mask in Europe became the part of everyday costume, like gloves, or a tie. Mask played the role of an object, giving man a sense of freedom, a personality not found in everyday life.
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Audrey Hepburn as Natasha Rostova in the film “War and peace”. Fan Kaleidoscope

Fan Kaleidoscope
With the departure of “Belle Epoque” the most necessary accessory of a civilized woman – fan became thing of the past. From now on, the invention of antiquity, not only female but also male accessory, has become only attribute of bohemian, artistic image. Almost all ancient peoples have stories and legends associated with a Fan. One says that when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, Eve tore a branch from a nearby tree, began to fan it, overcoming the embarrassment of her own nakedness. Chinese sources tell us about the famous beauty Lamsa, who during protracted ceremony, tired of stuffy and severity of precious robes, began to fan her mask, which caused indescribable delight of others, following her example.
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The Wedding of Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger at their wedding in the South of France, July 2013. Black wedding dress

Black wedding dress
According to belief, bride on a wedding day should wear the traditional white dress, as white as the color of purity. Black color is associated with the wedding fashion less often. However, nothing lasts forever, especially fashion! Perhaps the most black wedding which the world has ever witnessed, was Avril Lavigne’s: Gothic medieval castle Château de La Napoule in the South of France, black dress, black bridal make-up, black flower, black cake. The couple married on 1 July 2013 (Canada Day). Her black dress didn’t bring luck in marriage – on 2 September 2015, Lavigne announced her separation from Kroeger. The black wedding dress didn’t make happy other stars either – Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio in a modest black dress. Years later, after the wedding, the actress Sarah Jessica Parker admitted in an interview that the only thing she regrets in life – a black dress at the wedding.
“I wore black on my wedding day, and it was a huge mistake – said Sarah Jessica. – At that time I somehow felt that marrying in white – means to attract too much attention, and I was shy. Now I regret it, and if it were possible to turn time back, I would fix it, wearing a wedding dress whiter than the white of the snow, because only in this should be bride”.
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