Fashion: Ladies Do you know the history of Ankle-bracelet?

Anklet

Both younger and older women around the world make use of Anklet or Ankle-bracelet with their different varieties fashion as a way of complimenting their outfit. To this end, many meanings have been giving to the usage. Some has it that, it is a form of identification for secrecy and membership of secret society.  

 "Anklets are worn by HOT WIVES on the UK swingers scene to let other males know they are avialable.
This sounds like a similar claim to the one that women who have a tattoo on the small of their back (a.k.a. "arse antlers") are willing to engage in anal intercourse, if not actively seeking the same. Both in terms of the absurd generalisation, and a soupçon of wishful thinking on the part of the proponents. The reality of that urban myth is that many tattooed women aren't and would be greatly offended by a request for it, whereas some non-tattooed women would willingly consent. Surely the wearing of anklets should be seen in the same way. Wearing anklets to be seen by others, is only of any use if the anklets can be seen. Which would be fine in a swingers club or other similar indoor environment - where, in any event, there is a high probability that any ladies present are "up for it". However, outside these very specific environments, how many women will wear suitable footwear (ideally without socks or stockings), that allow the display of anklets? And for how many weeks of the year is this possible or comfortable in the UK, given the typical weather? A more pertinent question, is whether those men who would take an interest in these signs, are going to be looking at a woman's ankles, or elsewhere?" Anonymous

Nonetheless, in this article we decided to carryout recommendable eye opening research to clarify your argument on the origin and history of Anklet and also the various types around the world. For other uses, see Anklet (disambiguation).

An anklet on female feet.

A toe ring with attached anklet.

An anklet, also called ankle chain, ankle bracelet or ankle string, is an ornamentworn around the ankle. 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 sincepredynastic times. In the United Statesboth 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 barefootwomen. Formal anklets (of silver, gold, or beads) are used by some women as fashion jewellery. Anklets are an important piece of jewellery in Indianmarriages, worn along with saris.

Occasionally, anklets on both ankles are joined by a chain to limit the step. This practice was once prevalent in Southeast Asia, where the effect was to give a "feminine" short tripping step. Today, a few Western women follow this practice, but rarely in public. More rarely still, some people wear "permanent" (e.g., soldered) ankle chains and even connecting chains.

History

Egypt

Anklets were worn as an everyday ornament by Egyptian women of all social classes in ancient Egypt from as early as predynastic times. The name for anklets was not much different from that of bracelets being menefret (mnfrt) except by adding a phrase to denote connection to the feet. They were made of different metals and in multiple shapes, with more expensive metals likegold being more common among the rich, while less expensive ones like silverand iron more common among lower social classes. During the fourth, fifth, and sixth dynasties, anklets were usually made of beads threaded in several rows held together with spacer-bars. Anklets were also worn by dancers like those shown in the tombs of Kagemni, Ti, andAkh-hotp.

In the early–20th century, anklets were commonly worn by Egyptian women of inner cities. They were called kholkhal (pl.khalakheel) and were most commonly worn by women of Alexandria, along with a traditional dress covered by a one-piece black cloth called melaya leff.

Today, anklets are not commonly worn by Egyptian women in public due to increased Islamic conservatism that has spread in Egypt where wearing anklets in public is generally perceived as being immodest. Anklets are still commonly worn by dancers in public events.

Europe

Bronze anklets are visible as early as theBronze Age in temperate Europe, in an area roughly along the Danube, in the Alpine foreland, up the Rhine to the Atlantic, and also down the Rhône (Sherratt, 2001). These were found among hoards in these areas, along with other bronze items characteristic of this time (c. 1800 BCE onwards), and are attributable to the Tumulus culture that spread across this region.

Indian Sub continent

Neolithic and chalcolithic periods at Mehrgarh indicate use of anklets. Jhon Marshall describes dancing girl statue as being adorned with armlets, bangles, and anklets A first-century CE epic of Tamil literature called Silappatikaram (The Story of the Anklet) dealt with a woman whose husband was killed while trying to sell one of her anklets to a dishonest goldsmith. The anklets are described in great detail in the poem.

Rajasthani women wear the heaviest type of anklets, which are silver and signify tribal adherence. The women wear these as costume jewelry, but also to show their bravery as a tribe against other rival tribes. The fashion for heavy anklets is declining in India now, but is still common in rural areas.

In the eastern Indian state of Odisha, which is known for its traditional jewelry, there are varieties of anklets known as Paunji Nupur, which are worn by women. Another variety, which covers the entire foot, is known as Padapadma. In ancient times men also wore anklets. Traditionally, only Kshatriya(royal/warrior caste) persons can wear gold anklets, and other castes wear silver anklets.

The word "payal" (payalak) is a word for the anklet in Hindi and Punjabi.

Sri Lanka

The dancers wear anklets. Anklets are worn on both ankles.

As an ornament

Anklets can be made of silver, gold, and other less precious metals as well asleather, plastic, nylon and other such materials.

Metal anklets are of two types: "flexible" and "inflexible". 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.

Salangai or ghunghru

Salangai or Ghunghru are small bells that bharatnatyam, kathak, kuchipudi, and odissi dancers tie around their ankles.

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  A dancer performing an Indian classical dance: Odissi
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  A pair of ghungroo, a musical accessory.
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  Kathak Solo Performance
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  A set of Ghungru, with small bells

Left or right?

In Eastern cultures, particularly India, anklets are worn on either or both ankles.

Other anklets

Scuba divers sometimes wear lead anklets to stop a tendency for their legs to float up when diving in a drysuit. Convicted criminals may wear ankle monitors as electronic tagging devices while being confined to a specific venue.