The coconut ring is often found at hippie and craft fairs. Although it is not part of any fad coming from major fashionistas, it is widely used and has become a timeless accessory. One of its greatest meanings refers to simplicity, but it also has historical, religious and identification foundations. How about knowing more so you don’t miss the use of this ring? Origin of the coconut ring Around the 1960s, Christians began to adopt the coconut ring as a symbol of faith and devotion. Still used today for this same purpose, it became, in many churches, a representation of the faithful’s commitment to God and to those most in need. LGBT meaning of the coconut ring Generally, in Brazil, it’s common to be in a serious relationship for at least two years. Many lesbians usually date for longer periods of time, “I have friends that have been in three or four-year relationships,” Sara tells me. On the other hand, she says that she also knows people that have never been in serious, long-term relationships, because they “prefer not to have that commitment and like to just enjoy the night”. Alex sees most of her gay friends fall into the latter category, with more short-term relationships. “Of course, there are exceptions,” Alex considers, “one of my gay friends is close to getting married, but I don’t see that in the majority”. Read Also: Patch Applique: a creative and easy way to customize your objects Historical significance of the coconut ring

Traditional family values, mostly rooted in Catholicism, still permeate Brazilian social norms. Oftentimes, these social norms bring along double standards that target women, like in many other places around the world. While Sara sees more biases with the working-age groups, Alex is not yet in the workforce. She doesn’t feel much of a separation of her private and public life because she is still studying and around friends like her. She is still conscious of small double standards, like the pressure to shave her legs and armpits as a woman, to bigger-scale standards of wage disparity and verbal abuse on the streets. For her, it seems to revolve around the question of “why can’t I do the same things as every man I know?” It’s interesting to see how such a simple accessory with such a low value is, in fact, an object of great representation among the most varied peoples and communities, isn’t it? How to make a coconut ring Both women feel very included in such a massive community. Alex points to feeling love from Facebook groups for LGBTQ+ people, where she sees lots of help come through for people going through tough times. Many reach out to each other if they are struggling with their identities or being shamed by their families or peers. When Sara was discovering herself, she would listen to celebrity speeches and interviews that push people to keep moving forward and be proud of who they are. the dating scene So how do LGBTQ+ singles meet? It’s not too different from the U.S., with many people meeting each other through mutual friends and dating apps. Even though they knew each other from their high school years, Sara and Alex ironically only started to talk when they matched on Tinder. Brazilians use Tinder, Grindr, and Hornet (to name a few).Even so simple, the coconut ring carries with it several other meanings. One of the first leads to the Indians, who used this ring to represent the relationships they had within the tribes: marriages, family unions, friendships or even the connection between all the members. Added to this, its historical part also represents the resistance and struggle of slaves in the search for freedom. Religious meaning of the coconut ring One of the biggest meanings of the coconut ring is linked to simplicity, especially since it is made of a material that would most likely be discarded. This is also the reason why it is so often found at hippie fairs, as its low production and acquisition cost meets what is preached by them: material detachment. When asked about the biggest differences between dating in Brazil and dating in the U.S. or Canada, the couple said that Brazil is definitely more liberal. The hookup culture is dialed up a notch, where, “one can kiss many people in one night just because they feel like it”. Alex was a big clubber, and would go out two to three times a week, where she’d kiss “practically everyone who passed by”, including her gay friends sometimes. She considers dating in the U.S. more slow-paced and exclusive; Americans often go on many dates before defining the relationship. The Brazilian dating scene seems like a whirlwind of serious passion and long-standing romance, while at the same time it’s a liberating, laissez-faire hookup culture. The LGBTQ+ community embraces these two sides of the spectrum.