Children Wore Bulla BY Sally Khoury

Bulla




Children wore a locket called a bulla. It contained an amulet to protect the child against harm. Girls wore the bulla until their wedding day. Boys wore the bulla until they became citizens at the age of 16 or 17.

Make your own bulla. To make the one above you will need the following materials:

one canning jar lid

one canning jar ring

gold string

tin

faux jewels to represent the amulet

gold spray paint

hot glue gun

First gun the canning jar lid onto the ring so it will not come apart. This will form the bottom of the bulla. Next cut a piece of tin into a circle a little larger than the ring. This will become the top of the bulla.
Place the tin on a towel and draw a design in the tin. Bare down firmly so the design is etched into the tin. Next hot glue the piece of tin to the ring of the canning lid, so that it will open and close like a locket.
To form a loop for the gold string to attach to the bulla cut a rectangular piece of tin. Glue this to the top of the canning jar lid forming a loop for the string to be attached.
Spray the entire bulla with gold paint. Hot glue the jewels inside the amulet. Finally attach the string to the loop.

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