CROSS PENDANT MEANING
Why Do We Choose To Wear The Cross Pendant?
Wearing a necklace featuring a cross is a symbol of faith, represents that person’s beliefs, provides comfort, and promotes awareness. It is a Christian symbol to recall the crucifixion of Jesus Christ who sacrificed for humankind’s salvation. Many people wear cross necklaces not only because they are Christians, but a cross necklace can also make them feel safe and close to God, but chains with a cross can also remind them of triumph and hope.
In simple words, the cross is a Christian religious symbol and is said to signify faith, good luck, and fortune. The cross pendant is believed to protect its wearer from harm, bring calm and peace, and ward off evil spirits. For that reason, cross jewelry has been worn for centuries, and it is still popular today.
In fact, it’s long been used to criticize conformity and chastity, which critics identify as two hallmarks of the Christian faith. But in 2018, there are far fewer people wearing the cross as a subversive act, and many more wearing it as a purely aesthetic one.
THE MEANING OF 14 DIFFERENT CROSS NECKLACES
Latin Cross
This is the most common and recognizable cross pendant. It represents the cross of the crucifixion.
Crucifix
Not to be confused with a Latin Cross, a crucifix depicts the crucifixion of Jesus and shows his body nailed to the cross.
Greek Cross
Another popular cross pendant with equal arms on all sides.
Crusader Cross
Also known as the Jerusalem Cross, this pendant consists of a large cross with smaller crosses placed at each angle.
Byzantine Cross
Also called the Russian Orthodox Cross. It originated with the 6th Byzantine Empire and is characterized by its three horizontal crossbeams.
Celtic Cross
Representing eternal life, this Irish Cross is similar to a Latin Cross with a circle around the center.
St. Thomas Cross
Also known as Persian Cross, this cross can be traced back to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world – the Saint Thomas Christians of India.
Gothic Cross
The Gothic Cross is associated with Gothic culture.
Ankh Cross
Originally a symbol in ancient Egypt for life, it was adopted by the Egyptian and North African Christians (the Copts).
Sideways Cross
The horizontal orientation of the necklace connotes that Jesus Christ has actually risen and that the cross has already been laid down to signify that humanity has been saved. Sideway crosses are even engraved in tombstones and graves to symbolize the resurrection of the soul during the coming of Judgment Day.
Anchor Cross
Anchor crosses(also called Mariner’s Cross) come in various styles, ranging from a traditional anchor shape to those with hooks, swords, ropes, and more. For Christians, Jesus Christ is the anchor of the soul: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6: 19-20).
This cross is also called St. Clement’s Cross. St. Clement of Rome was third in succession after the Apostle Peter. He is primarily known for his letter to the Corinthians around 96 AD. Some early sources say that St. Clement died a natural death, but a tradition from the ninth century relates his martyrdom by drowning when thrown overboard from a ship with an anchor tied to him. His feast day is celebrated on November 23rd in the West; November 25th in the East.
St Brigid Cross
This cross is fashioned with a “woven” motif, after St. Brigid’s woven cross. St. Brigid, Patroness of Ireland (around 453-525), is known for her wisdom and generosity to the poor. She is the most revered female saint of Ireland. Tradition says that her cross was woven from rushes to illustrate the significance of Christianity to a dying, pagan chieftain, who then embraced Christianity before his death. Her feast day is celebrated on February 1.
Budded Cross
A cross with circles or discs on the end of each arm. Budded crosses can be fashioned with anywhere from a single to five buds per cross end, each arrangement having its own symbolism. The most common is three, which represent the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Four buds usually symbolize the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The three-budded cross is also sometimes called the Apostles Cross, with each bud representing one of the twelve Apostles. When designed with gemstones for each bud and a single gemstone in the center, the central stone symbolizes Christ.
Canterbury Cross
Found in 1867 in Canterbury, England, the original cross dates to circa 850 AD and was cast in bronze. The arms were each designed with a triangular panel adorned with a “triquetra”, or three-cornered knot, representing the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The design of the Canterbury cross is an example of an early Consecration cross. The original is on display at the Royal Museum in Canterbury.
Consecration Cross
It is also called a Rounded Cross. The word “consecration” means a setting apart, an act which separates something, or someone, from a common to sacred use. The minister of consecration is a bishop. In a consecrated church, twelve consecration crosses are carved or painted on walls, pillars, or altars, marking the place where church walls have been anointed with chrism. The twelve crosses have equal length arms, distinguishing them from the main crosses of the church, which represent the Crucifixion. The consecration crosses symbolize the twelve apostles.
Claddagh Cross
The Claddagh symbol (also spelled Claddaugh) is two hands clasping a heart surmounted by a crown. The design represents love (heart), friendship (hands), and loyalty (crown). A Claddagh featured with a cross represents love based on the Christian faith.
How to Wear the Cross Pendant?
Choosing the Right Gold Cross Pendant
Gold cross pendants are always the move, but there are different variations that you can experiment with until you find one that works right for you.
Most cross pendants are fairly small, usually around 4cm or shorter. This is because they’re typically less about making a fashion statement and more about making a personal sentimental statement. With that said, tinier cross pendants can still one-up your style game. However, if you’re looking for something that’s going to stand out, then choosing larger pendants is the way to go.
Choosing the Right Chain
Arguably the most important part of any pendant (besides the pendant itself) is the chain that coincides with it. When it comes to golden cross medallions, there are a few things to think about before matching them with a blinged-out chain. The proper chain could make or break your piece as a whole.
For one, it’s important to think about the color of the chain. You want to make sure that the pendant and chain compliment each other nicely. This means that neither one outshines the other. Picking a chain that s made with diamond and that s highly reflective might be a bit distracting, pulling the focus away from the centerpiece.
Going with something like a CHURINGA stainless steel Chain is a safe and classy way for the entire piece to look uniform. Later, you can always get more chains in stainless steel or rose gold plated if you feel like changing it up. But having a nice, classic gold plated chain combo is important to have on hand.
Next, think about the size of the chain in comparison to the pendant. Most cross pendants run on the smaller size, so you want to make sure that the chain is equally thin to avoid offsetting the piece. You’ll probably want to stay in the 3-5mm range for most cross pendants.
Finally, you’ll need to think about the chain length. Chains that are around 18 inches in length won’t hang down from the neck very far. If your pendant is on the larger side, this might feel a bit uncomfortable. For larger pendants, consider a longer length, such as 22 to 24 inches, to allow for it to dangle more freely.
Choosing the Right Outfit
Last but not least, you need to make sure that your chain and pendant combo works with your outfit as a whole. The great thing about gold plated and stainless steel is that it’s a versatile metal that can look good with almost anything.
However, if you want your necklace to stand out, solid-colored clothing is best. Patterned shirts are great, but they can camouflage the golden cross and make it blend into the background. Solid colors eliminate that threat. For best effect, throw on something solid white or black. These colors are neutral and provide a subliminal background for the gold pendant to rest. It will really help make your piece become the center of the fit.
Go With Cross Earrings
The cross pendant is sure to look fly, especially when you get a perfect chain to match. But you shouldn’t stop there. A cross pendant will give a nice kick to your outfit, but it won’t make as big of an impact by itself.
This is where other accessories can really come into play. Something like anAnkh Key Earring would be a great fit because of its similar shape to the cross pendant. This could help provide a uniformity to your overall appearance that will look mature and refined.
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