A CROSS PENDANT – A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL OR AN ACCESSORY?
A Cross Pendant – a Religious Symbol or an Accessory?
In earlier times, people used ornaments to demonstrate their status, faith or material well-being. Now we live at a time when items-symbols, including religious ones, are not always directly associated with their original meaning. Once being sacred, today these items have become decorative elements, and every person can give them his or her own meaning. A vivid example of this transformation is jewelry with crosses. Such pieces still carry the significance of the most important symbol of Christianity but at the same time, they can be read in different ways without any offensive context.
A Cross as a Symbol of Faith
A cross is given to a person during the rite of baptism. According to the laws of the church, one ought to wear it constantly without removing. At the same time, a cross is a rather intimate item, which should not be displayed. Therefore, it is suggested that people should wear it in the diaphragm area so that it does not peep out from under the clothes.
Speaking of which, it is best to wear a cross pendant with modest apparel. After all, if a person is baptized, then he or she must spiritually meet this status. This, in particular, suggests that clothes of such an individual should be discreet and not provocative. This said, the combination of a cross jewelry and the outfits cannot contradict each other.
The ideal size of a cross is small. After all, in the religious world, this is not an ornament; it is a symbol of faith and spirituality. Therefore, it should neither be large nor clearly be seen under the clothes. Only priests are allowed to wear crosses over the clothes.
Cross pendants can be made from any metal and even wood. A cross is normally put on a chain or a special thread called gaitan. The face of the cross is the one which depicts Jesus Christ.
Cross as a Jewelry Piece
Fashion dictates its own rules and today it is quite common to wear cross even if a person is an atheist. In this case, a cross does not bear any sacramental significance and it is rather a regular jewelry piece. Such crosses differ from the church ones by the fact that they do not have a crucifix. Such crosses can be decorated with multi-colored gems, inlaid with precious stones, or be made of metal alone. Cross pendants are also popular accessories in informal subcultures such as rockers, bikers, Goths, etc. Check out AJT Jewellery if you are looking for stylish and tasteful silver jewelry.
Unlike crucifixes, such ornaments, as a rule, are worn on a bare body. Men wear pendants with unbuttoned shirts or put them on a bare torso. Women usually place such decorative crosses in the area of deep décolleté. In this case, there are no restrictions regarding clothes.
Thus, a cross, in recent decades, has acquired a completely new meaning. It became a recognizable symbol that looks harmoniously in a variety of styles. Whether you are a buff of a gloomy gothic, a lush royal style or you are in the running for an elegant ornament suitable for everyday wear, you can easily pick a fashionable and stylish cross pendant to make your look complete.