Earrings

The ear was an important part of the body. It was believed that divinities as well as heroes and heroines were born from their mother’s ear. The use of earrings is an old custom. Because the soul could leave the body through the ear, an earring was fastened to protect the opening. Both women and men wore earrings and often children did too. Underlying their use was also the belief that wearing earrings healed eye and nose ailments. Sailors wore only one earring to show that the other one was waiting in their bride’s chest of drawers in their home port.