The red string bracelet: one thread, many traditions

The Kabbalah version

In the modern Kabbalah movement, a red thread is tied around the left wrist, often with seven knots and a short blessing. The custom draws on a Jewish folk practice linked with Rachel's Tomb near Bethlehem, where thread is sometimes wound around the tomb and then worn. Many Jewish people see the commercial version as quite different from their own religious practice, so it helps to describe it as one tradition among several.

Hindu ritual threads

In Hindu practice, a red and yellow cord called a kalava or mauli is tied on the wrist during a puja or a festival. The priest ties it with a prayer, and it is worn until it wears away. This is a devotional act within a living faith, not a generic fashion item, and it is usually received rather than bought.

Babies and mal de ojo

In parts of Latin America, a red thread, often with a black bead or an azabache, is put on a newborn to guard against mal de ojo. Pediatric guidance advises against bracelets, threads and cords on babies: a thread can tighten around a tiny wrist or finger and cut off circulation, wrap around a neck, or come loose and be swallowed. To honor the custom safely, keep the thread on a parent's wrist or in a keepsake box, never in the crib, and ask your pediatrician if you are unsure.

Wearing and tying one

• For adults and older children, tie it loose enough to slide, and check it now and then.
• Ask a friend to tie it if you want the sense of shared good wishes.
• Let it fall off on its own, or cut it gently when you choose.
• Pick cotton thread, which is soft and wears naturally.

A simple gift

A red string bracelet is inexpensive and easy to give with a note about the tradition you have in mind. Be clear that it is a symbolic keepsake, and let the person decide what it means to them.