Jelly bracelets first arrived on the scene in the 1980s as a fashion accessory. However, by 2003, the jelly bracelet had a sexual meaning that had parents and school officials worried.
History of Jelly Bracelets
Jelly bracelets were popularized as a fashion accessory by pop singers like Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. The thin, rubbery like wristbands came in the rainbow of colors and were all the rage in the late 1980s to mid-1990s. These spaghetti-thin rubber bangles were worn in groups of five, ten, and even twenty on one arm. Wearers collected at least one of every color. The bracelets had a resurgence in popularity around 2003 when they were blamed as the game piece in a teenage sex game called Snap.
Snap and Jelly Bracelets Meaning
Around 2003, parents and school officials became concerned that innocent-looking jelly bracelets had been commandeered as game pieces for the sex game, Snap. Participants in the game would take the jelly bracelet and pull on it, then release so it snapped the person wearing it with the goal of causing the bracelet to break. If the jelly bracelet broke, the person wearing it would perform whatever sex act the bracelet color represented.
School Officials Banned Jelly Bracelets
Many people believed the Jelly Bracelet Snap Game scenario was purely an urban legend. However, as a precautionary measure, many school officials banned the wearing of jelly bracelets on campus. Parents prohibited their children from wearing the cheap bracelets. The thin jelly bracelets seemed doomed to be forever associated with supposed sex game. It was difficult to overcome what many believed was just an urban legend.
New Wider Jelly Bracelet and New Message
In 2004, Nike designed a yellow jelly bracelet for its cancer fundraising campaign, Livestrong. Cancer survivor and professional cyclist, Lance Armstrong was chosen as the campaign spokesperson. However, Armstrong's jelly bracelet was more sophisticated. It was a wider silicone band than the thin jelly bracelet and sported the embossed lettering, Livestrong. The Livestrong style of jelly bracelet set off a new trend of message bracelets for various causes. It is often referred to as a silicone bracelet or silicone wristband.
Jelly Bracelet Color Meanings Chart
Over the years, the color coded meanings of jelly bracelets have been relegated to causes. Each color has many meanings and represents several causes. You just have to find the one that best fits your campaign or cause.
| Color | Cause |
|---|---|
| Yellow |
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| Red |
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| Burgundy |
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| Purple |
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| Orange |
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| Peach |
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| Green |
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| Lime Green |
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| Blue |
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| Light Blue |
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| Dark Blue |
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| Black |
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| Light Gray |
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| Gray |
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| Periwinkle |
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| Pink |
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| Teal |
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| Multi-Colors |
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| White |
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Shop for Jelly Charm Bracelets
You can find all kinds of jelly charm bracelets. You may decide to wear a jelly bracelet to showoff various charms. Just like Italian charm bracelets, you can purchase individual charms to accessorize your bands. Each charm simply slides onto the bracelet. You can change them, or add as many as your bands will hold.
- One type of jelly charm bracelets features jelly bracelets filled with colored glitter.
- You can find glow-in-the-dark colorful jelly bracelets that are also worn as hair ties.
- You can buy a jelly charm bracelet set, the Apple Blossom 5-bracelet set with an apple blossom charm or Kooky Cookie jelly bracelet set and charm.
- You can create your own message with the more modern version of a jelly bracelet with a silicone bracelet.
Jelly Bracelets From the Past and Present
You can find jelly bracelets that are like the originals sold in the 1980s and 1990s. You may prefer the more modern version that is wider and often features a saying or advertises a specific cause.
