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The Hamsa Hand symbol is something you may have seen appearing more frequently in recent years. It seems to have gained in popularity amongst celebrities and young audiences.
But what is the Hamsa Hand? You may have wondered what, if any, religious connotations it has.
In this blog post, we attempt to tell you what it is, what it means and show how anyone can wear it, whatever your faith and the beautiful, heartfelt meaning it holds.
What Is The Hamsa Hand?
The Hamsa is a symbol which has, for centuries, spanned many faiths. It symbolises good fortune and abundance along with protection against evil. The other symbol that does this is with Evil Eye jewellery.
The symbol is not connected with any particular religions but has meaning in many of them.
What a Hamsa Hand Looks Like
The amulet features an open hand, usually the right hand, and is often called “The Hand of God”.
Its Different Spellings and Names
The symbol is known by a few names including Hamsa, Hamesh and Khamsa. It is also known as the Hand of Fatima.
The Origins of The Hamsa Hand
Some believed it to have originated in the Middle East. Having said that, early cave drawings featuring the Hamsa Hand have been found in France, Spain and Algeria.
Its Meaning Across Different Faiths
Whilst the hand spans many cultures and religions, the meanings are the same, namely good fortune and protection.
Hebrew
In Hebrew the number Five is called Hamesh. The fifth letter of the alphabet is “hey” which is a holy name for God.
Islam
In Islam it is referred to the Hand of Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed and represents the Five Pillars of Islam.
Christianity
In Christianity, the hand is thought of as being the hand of Mary.
Judaism
In Judaism, I think it to be the Hand of Miriam. The five fingers represent the five books of the Torah.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, it represents the five Chakras and the five mudras.
Two Designs
There are often two styles of the Hamsa Hand.
One style is an open hand which looks like a regular hand, the other style features an open hand with two, symmetrical thumbs.
The Evil Eye
The Evil Eye is often included in the design, in the centre of the palm, and is said to ward off evil thoughts and intentions from others.
Hand Facing Up or Hand Facing Down
Sometime the hand faces down and sometimes it faces up.
If it faces down it is said to bring you good fortune and abundance. If the hand faces up, with the Evil Eye on display, it is believed to ward off bad vibes from others.
Hamsa Hand Jewellery
Due to the beautiful meaning of this amulet and the way it reaches across many cultures and religions, it is a perfect symbol to incorporate into jewellery. This way it can be carried and worn at all times or in times of need.
There are some stunning pieces of jewellery which use the Hamsa Hand in the design. You can often find the Hamsa Hand charm to purchase on its own which you can then add to a necklace chain you already have.
The Evil Eye in some Hamsa Hand designs, lend themselves well to incorporating precious stones, particularly in the place of the Evil Eye.
Celebrities Wearing the Hamsa
Many celebrities have added to the popular appeal of the Hamsa.
The recent interest in the Kabbalah religion by stars such as Madonna and Demi Moore, have added to the interest in wearing this symbol. They have both been seen wearing the Hamsa hand in their jewellery.
This has added to the trend in jewellery with this symbol.
