Lindsay Cook, & Dr. Rachel Olsthoorn
Many people have made, given, and received friendship bracelets at some point in their lives. Friendship bracelets can take different forms: some are made from string in intricate patterns of knots, while others are created with beads. This anthropological study seeks to understand the contemporary personal and cultural significance of making, giving, and receiving friendship bracelets, and how this relates to their cultural significance. This research also determines how friendship bracelets act as symbols of human relationships, how they become singularized objects, and how they may be conceptualized within different cultures. Motivations for giving friendship bracelets are also explored throughout this project. Questionnaires were distributed online and via QR code to gather information from around the world regarding the symbolism and significance of friendship bracelets, and results were analyzed using content analysis and thematic analysis. The significance of friendship bracelets does not seem to vary on a cultural level, and their personal significance is concerned with how friendship bracelets serve as symbols and reminders of friendships, and expressions of love and goodwill. Their meanings also vary based on the circumstances in which a bracelet exchange took place. This research is significant because it contextualizes friendship bracelets within broader anthropological themes, including gift-giving practices, reciprocity, and singularization. It also sheds light on the subject of friendship bracelets, which are not a common subject in anthropological study.