If you are looking for a gift for a religious person, or even for yourself, jewelry that has some spiritual meaning behind it can be a great idea. Jewelry would define any ornamental adornment on the body; rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins, brooches, watches, etc..

Even toe rings and tiaras are included in the category. Jewelry has been used in every single culture throughout world history and used for many different things and in many different ways.

Our American culture uses it more for decoration but it can serve other purposes as well. Jewelry is used to represent social or official rank, age, marital status, and tribal affinity.

In addition, jewelry serves as emblems of religious, social, and political affiliation. In fact, one of the very first uses of jewelry was to show religious affiliation. The following are the main cultures that began the use of religious jewelry and the common symbols and uses of their jewelry.

In Ancient Egypt, religious jewelry was very symbolic and used in rituals all over. You might recognize some of these: scarab (beetle), lotus, serpent, falcon, and the eye. The scarab is a symbol for good luck and resurrection while the "Eye of the Horus" represents healing.

A common symbol of the time called the "Ankh" is meant to represent eternal life. Many people have Ankh's on their walls in their homes or on necklaces.

Religious jewelry was extravagant, consisting of gold and semi-precious stones and were worn by men and women alike. When the Roman Era arrived, Egyptian religious jewelry was made of cheaper materials and more Christian symbols were used.

When Islam arrived in Egypt men were forbidden to wear gold jewelry. At this time silver jewelry became more popular in religious jewelry in Egypt. Even though religious jewelry is used all over Egypt to this day, it does not have quite the same Religious jewelry is still widely used in Egypt, but does not have the same meaning as the Ancient Egyptian religious jewelry.

When St. Constantine Christianized the Roman Empire Art and architecture thrived. Back then, there were several popular symbols created that are still used by avid Christians today.

These symbols include the cross, the rosary, and the Christian fish charm. The cross is a symbol of God's love and a reminder of Christ's suffering. Rosary beads are prayer beads that began in the Roman Christian world but are now used predominately by the Catholic Church (officially accepted by the Catholic Church during the rosary approbation in 1520).

Rosary beads are also used in the Islam and Buddhist faith. The Christian fish charm came about when early Christians would make an acronym with the Greek word for fish, "ichthys," Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior). This symbol attracted less attention to the persecuted Christians. The Christian charm remains very popular today.

Native American religious jewelry revolved around nature. They revered natural processes and made jewelry to reflect that. Their jewelry played a role in religious ceremonies, and represented status.

You can still see the natural materials that were used in their jewelry including feathers along with minerals such as turquoise and metals like silver. These natural materials were a reminder of the Earth around them.

When there were specific healing ceremonies or harvest rituals, the tribes would wear very specific kinds of religious jewelry that had the right color, made of the right materials and represented the right symbol for that event. It would not do to wear something for luck in hunting during a healing ceremony.

The jewelry that is worn by a person is representative of the different stages of life an individual has entered into. In several tribes adolescents are initiated into adulthood when they receive the spiritual totem consisting of shells, beads, or symbols from nature.

Native American religious jewelry was also given to women after they first menstruated and became a "woman" and to newly married couples to enhance fertility. Religious jewelry has played a significant role in Native American culture.

Since jewelry is so prevalent in our society from jewels and gems to plastic, we often forget the history of where jewelry started and that it can have a deeper meaning. Understanding some history can get one to see the greater symbolism that jewelry can be used for.