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Wide recognition -

Over the last few decades, friendship bracelets have become a common way to symbolize close relationships. Whether woven at summer camps or exchanged at concerts, these colorful bracelets have become a widely recognized token of friendship across generations.

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Modern culture -

Friendship bracelets have permeated various social and cultural spheres, even making appearances in popular media. At Taylor Swift concerts, fans exchange them to symbolize community and shared experience, while politicians have even adopted the practice as a way to express camaraderie.

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American culture -

Since the 1980s, friendship bracelets have been a staple of American youth culture. Often made from fabric or colorful threads, these bracelets became a popular way for children to express their friendships. Yet they interestingly don’t have a singular point of origin or culture.

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Chinese history -

Decorative knots can be traced all the way through Chinese history from 481 to 221 BCE. Also known as zhongguo jie, these knots are made using a single length of cord woven into various symbolic shapes.

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Exchanging gifts -

Throughout history, gifts have played an essential role in the strengthening of friendships. As early as the 10th century, Norse poetry encouraged exchanging gifts like garments and weapons to forge lasting bonds between friends.

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Intellectual gifts -

In the 16th century, Dutch theologian Erasmus exchanged books, paintings, and ancient coins with his friends. This exchange became a symbolic and intellectual currency, reflecting how humanists of the time fostered relationships through shared knowledge and cultural appreciation.

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The Claddagh ring -

By the 18th and 19th centuries in Ireland, the Claddagh ring had been used as a symbol of both love and friendship. Its heart represents love, the clasped hands symbolize friendship, and the circular shape of the ring signifies an unbreakable, eternal bond.

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The medieval fede ring -

The Claddagh ring is believed to be inspired by the medieval fede ring, a design featuring clasped hands. This motif was rooted in ancient Rome’s symbolic act of dextrarum iuncto (the joining of hands), and it reflects a commitment between people.

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Knots -

In European history, knots were used to symbolize friendship, especially by knighthood orders in the 14th century. This is where the concept of “tying the knot” stems from, representing close ties between individuals.

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Locks of hair -

By the 18th century, friends began exchanging locks of hair, which degrades slowly and was believed to represent an eternal connection. This practice, though more commonly associated with romantic or familial love, was also a meaningful gesture between close friends.

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George Washington -

Even historical figures like George Washington participated in the tradition of exchanging hair. Washington gifted his hair to close friends (including fellow Founding Father Alexander Hamilton) as a token of intimate connection.

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Hair jewelry -

During the 19th century, hair was often set in jewelry, like bracelets and necklaces, allowing friends to carry a physical piece of one another wherever they went. In 1805, former First Lady Abigail Adams and her friend Mercy Otis Warren exchanged hair to set in a ring and brooch.

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Friendship brooches -

In the 19th century, friendship brooches became popular, and many designs were drawn up for potential jewelry. They sometimes featured ivy flowers (which symbolized fidelity) along with inscriptions like, “Nothing can detach me from you.”

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Endless symbols -

Advertisements for friendship brooches in the early 20th century emphasized their circular shape, likening it to the endlessness of friendship. The idea that friendship is eternal became central to the marketing of these symbolic objects.

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The birth of friendship bracelets -

By the late 20th century, friendship bracelets became a new way to symbolize friendships. Typically brightly colored and woven from fabric, these bracelets continued the tradition of gift-giving as a way to strengthen and symbolize friendships.

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Central American origins -

Though the exact origin of friendship bracelets is unknown, it is speculated that they have roots in Central American weaving traditions. Inspired by Mayan techniques, these natural fiber bracelets gained popularity in the US during the 1960s counter-culture movement.

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Counter-culture -

The rise of friendship bracelets in the 1960s coincided with the counter-culture movement, which embraced naturalism, long hair, earthy tones, and handmade accessories. The woven bracelets were seen as a reflection of the natural, simplistic aesthetic of the era.

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Childhood culture -

By the 1980s, friendship bracelets had become a quintessential part of childhood. They were commonly traded at events like sleepovers and summer camps, becoming a symbol of friendship for children growing up during this period, especially for Generation X and Millennials.

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Protests -

Around the same time, bracelets also became a political statement. After the disappearances of Mayan Indians and peasants in Guatemala in the ’80s, bracelets were donned during the subsequent protests.

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Popular media -

The popularity of friendship bracelets even extended into mainstream media. For example, in 1989, the teen sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell’ featured a storyline in which the characters launched a business selling friendship bracelets to their peers.

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Kandi bracelets -

In the early 1990s, kandi bracelets (with brightly colored plastic beads) became a ritualized accessory within the underground EDM (electronic dance music) scene. Rave-goers exchanged these bracelets as a way to build connections and celebrate shared musical interests.

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Social currency -

Within the EDM rave culture, kandi bracelets became a form of social currency. By exchanging them, participants were able to symbolize shared experiences and form temporary bonds with fellow music lovers, which reinforced their sense of community.

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Taylor Swift fans -

The practice of exchanging friendship bracelets gained new life in the Swiftie fan community. Taylor Swift concertgoers often exchange lyric-clad bracelets as a way to connect with other fans and commemorate shared experiences, much like the kandi bracelet tradition.

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Folklore -

According to folklore, it is customary to tie a bracelet around a friend’s wrist as a symbol of friendship and to make a wish at the same time. The bracelet should be worn until it naturally falls off, at which point the wish is supposed to come true.

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Unisex -

Friendship bracelets also became largely popular due to the fact that they are commonly worn by both male and female teenagers and children.

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Watery materials -

Bracelets are known to be worn in various settings, although the most versatile is that they can be a fashion accessory at the beach. The materials used to make friendship bracelets are not easily destroyed, which allows people to swim freely while wearing them.

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Royalty -

Even King Charles has been known to adorn friendship bracelets for decades. Many have speculated that the most recent bracelet was gifted to him by Princess Charlotte, who is a fan of Taylor Swift.

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Evolution -

Friendship bracelets have truly evolved over time, from simple woven bands to intricate pieces of jewelry adorned with beads, charms, and personalized messages. This evolution mirrors the ways in which friendship itself has been celebrated and symbolized throughout history.

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Endurance -

From ancient Roman traditions to 21st-century concert rituals, the ways we celebrate and symbolize friendships continue to change, but the core sentiment remains the same: humans deeply value their connections and continue to find meaningful ways to honor them.

Sources: (National Geographic) (Harbour UK) (BraceletBook)

See also: The largest empires in world history

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