I'm reading this novel called Short Girls by Bich Minh Nguyen where the girls including the main characters in the Vietnamese culture wore wrist bracelets starting when they were young and were suppose to keep them on as they got older and throughout life. It is not forced though and the main characters opted to stop wearing them in high school but the mother still wore one. It is only briefly mentioned in the book and I've never heard of this and found it interesting and wanted to learn more. I don't even know though I don't think this is a made-up part by the author. But would anyone know inc anything else about them inc what the meaning behind wearing them is etc? Thanks.

Are you talking about the jade bracelets the green ones

Hmm. That makes me remember, all the kids in my family wore silver bracelets with bells on their ankles and arms when they were little.

Anyone else seen this?

Like this:






When I saw some of the dong son artifacts it reminded me of this too.

Yes those are indeed the ones, they were jade. Why do the girls wear them?



Why, do all the kids wear them?

I think it has something to do with Buddhism

I'm guessing they're charm bracelets.

so it's a religious thing, not a cultural thing; or both?

Not sure. My mom says her parents did it so she just did it too. And it looked cute. lol

Maybe it's just for looks, or good luck or something.

Anyone know?

Maybe both

My mom and my grandmom wear those. I remember when I was little my mom and my aunt used soap to force some really small bracelet into my wrist. It hurt really bad and I cried really loud but it finally went in. I don't remember what happened to that bracelet, it's no longer on my wrist, maybe I broke it.

I've always wondered about the meaning myself.

Hmmm, it probably is a cultural thing or religious thing... strong chance of Buddhism or that other religion where they worship that female person..I forget her name

You mean Mother Quan Âm?

I wear the seven bangles set. Someone told me the purpose of the 7 bangles is to help women know what number day of the week it is back when there was no calendar. My mom also told me it is for good luck. I had it on for more than 10 years and I cannot take it off, it is annoying when I travel and I set off the alarm each time I walked through the alarm detector. So I always end up getting pat down.

I never wore one but I've seen people who wear it.
Is it just for girls? or is it for boys as well?

8 years ago, my dad bought me a golden bracelet that cost 3mil VND. But I lost it It was not one of those permanent bracelets, it had a lock for you to take off. I always wore it on my wrist but one day (when I was in the US) after coming out of the gym I felt my hand so light (the bracelet was "vàng đặc", not "vàng rỗng" so it was pretty heavy and I got used to having that weight on my arm) and I looked down and the bracelet was gone. I went back to the gym to find but couldn't. It was such a waste.

body builder princess?

im pretty sure its a chinese thing

Is that why you stopped going to the gym?

I wonder if that is the reason LOL

Can you provide a pic of wearing one on your wrist? Also cocoloco aren't you Filipino? Meaning there's a good chance the bracelets are more tied to religion than culture.

coco is viet ^^^^

Tav6 is right I am Vietnamese.