How to Wear an Ankle Bracelet?
An anklet, also called ankle chain, ankle bracelet or ankle string, is an ornament worn around the ankle.
Anklets can be made of silver, gold, and other less precious metals as well as leather, plastic, nylon and other such materials.
Metal anklets are of two types:
- Flexible anklets, often called paayal, pajeb or jhanjhar in India, are made by tying links in a chain. Subsequently, sonorous bells can be attached to the chain, so that the wearer can make pleasing sounds while walking. The sound was also a reminder for people that there was a woman around, during the times of Purdah.
- Inflexible anklet are usually created by shaping flat metal sheet to the ankle.
Where to Worn Anklets – Left or Right?
In Eastern cultures, particularly India, anklets are worn on either or both ankles.
History of the Ankle Bracelet
Barefoot anklets and toe rings historically have been worn for at least over 8000 years by girls and women in South Asia, where it is commonly known as pattilu, payal and sometimes as nupur. They have also been worn by Egyptian women since predynastic times. In the United States both casual and more formal anklets became fashionable from the 1930s to the late–20th century. While in Western popular culture both younger men and women may wear casual leather anklets, they are popular among barefoot women. Formal anklets (of silver, gold, or beads) are used by some women as fashion jewellery. Anklets are an important piece of jewellery in Indian marriages, worn along with saris.
Other anklets
Scuba divers sometimes wear lead anklets to stop a tendency for their legs to float up when diving in a dry-suit. Convicted criminals may wear ankle monitors as electronic tagging devices while being confined to a specific venue.
