Waist beads, also known as belly beads or waistline beads are traditional ornaments worn in the African culture.
They have been used as an accessory since ancient times in Egypt, where they were known as ‘girdle’.
Contents
What Are Waist Beads?
Waist beads are strings formed by joining small beads in a single or multiple strands and are worn around waist, stomach, or hips.
Beads can be of various shapes and sizes. They may be glass, stones, crystal, wooden, metal, or bones.
Since ancient times, they have been worn by the women belonging to African culture, not only as a fashion statement but these beads depict a spiritual meaning and symbolize feminity, self-love, confidence, healing, wealth, and power.
In recent years, they have become a lot more popular in the West and other countries as well due to their aesthetic look and promotion through social media.
5 Reasons To Wear Waist Beads
There are reasons more than just a trend to wear these beads. These include-
1. Weight awareness
Waist beads can be used as a tool to mark changes in your weight.The principle here lies that if you lose weight and your waist becomes smaller, the chain becomes lose and starts to slip down.
On the other hand, if you gain weight, the chain becomes tighter and you might have to pull it up the abdomen so that it fits.
Adjustable beads are also available to prevent the change of their position if there is fluctuation in your weight.
They promote a sense of self worth and body positivity by not having to depend on the scale to check your weight. Women of any shape or size can wear it and feel the beauty of it.
2. Maturity
Culturally wais beads depict feminity, healthy growth pattern and maturity. During the naming ceremony the baby is adorned with waistline beads. However, only a girl continues to wear it traditionally.
In some cultures, mothers ornament their daughters with a pair of beads at the onset of their first menstruation as a sign of maturity and growth.
With each changing phase, a new pair of beads is worn by the women indicating womanhood and love.
3. Intimacy and fertility
Waist beads enhance the sensual appearance and are used during intimacy to look more appealing.
They have a signifance related to fertility as well because specific beads are used during intercourse if the couple is trying to concieve.
Pregnant women are made to wear beads that are known to be give protection and strength to the mother and baby.
In some cultures of Ghana, women wear larger beads that make sounds while walking to attract and make them noticeable to the men who are ready to marry.
Sometimes, they are also used as a part of lingerie by matching with it, only for the woman and her partner to see it. Different types of beads are used for different purposes.
4. Heritage and Pride
Waist beads have become quite popular among a number of ethnicites but these specifically were originated in the African culture.
Black women who live in a dispersed group can feel connected to their culture by wearing these accessories. Wearing waist beads depict that they are proud of their culture and heritage.
It indicates celebration of a tradition with love and respect towards their ancestors. It gives them a feeling of oneness with their people.
5. Posture
Waist beads fit differently in different postures.
Sometimes, if you are not sitting in a correct posture, they can make you aware that your spine position needs to be straight and you need to relaxe and breathe calmly while sitting.
How Do You Choose The Right Waist Beads For Your Body?
Waist beads can come in many different designs and sizes. You can choose them according to your wish and need.
To choose the right waist bead for your body you need to first decide the position at which you want it to fit- waist, stomach or hips.
You can use a string to measure the length you require for the chain by putting a mark at the point where two ends meet. The other way is to simply use a measuring tape to mark the scale.
Then you can choose the beads that represent your inner self the way you want it to.
Adjustable beads are available for people who want to keep them permanently, no matter the change in their size. They can be taken off or put on according to your wish.
On the other hand, there are non-adjustable permanent beads that do not stretch or compress according to your need or measurement.
They adhere there permanently until you cut them off or they break.
What Are The Meanings Of Colours And Stones?
Belly beads hold a great value when it comes to symbols and meanings.
Each type and colour of beads represent something meaningful and different.
Color meanings
- White- purity, faith, truthfulness
- Red- strength, passion, sensuality, aggression
- Purple- mystery, youth, creativity, royalty
- Blue- dignity, calm, trust, healing
- Green- peace, harmony, abundance, generosity
- Black- elegance, power, wealth
- Yellow- contentment, awareness, clarity
- Gold- rich, prestigious
Stone and charm meanings
- Quartz – clarity, healing
- Amethyst – spiritual protection and purity
- Rose quartz – unconditional love, friendship
- Anchor- hope, peace, stability
- Evil eye – protection against negative energy
- Acorn – growth, positive change
- Green aventurine – prosperity, and luck
- Hamsa – health, happiness
Where To Buy Waist Beads?
Waist beads are available in the market quite easily. It is better if you purchase them from a skilled person at first, for proper measurements and fitting.
If there is no waist bead artist in your area that could provide you with the ornament, you can find a number of websites online with tons of different kinds of waist beads available.
You can even ask an artist to make waist bead chains for you if you are unable to find something of your size.
Some sites like royal waist beads, exotic body beads, Waists By Wednesday sell beautiful and varieties of accessories. There are some stores available on amazon which sell such stuff.
Conclusion
Waist beads or belly beads are accessories that represent a tradition related to African culture.
They are worn by women and they symbolize different meanings depending upon the color and stones used.They are given to babies and women continue to wear them throughout the life.
Mothers give their daughters a new set of beads during the onset of their menstrual period which marks growth, feminity, and maturity.
These beads represent the pride and heritage of a culture and are a way for Black women in different parts of the world to feel connected to their ancestors and tradition.
They also depict sensuality and women wear them to appeal to suitors when they enter the fertile period.
Waist beads are a way of self-expression for women. They are gaining popularity in different parts of the world due to their beauty and meaning.
