When researching into the interesting social history of safety pins and the meaning behind them, I found out that they have always had connotations with being anti-establishment. During WWII, The Netherlands surrendered to Germany. Apparently citizens would hide safety pins somewhere on their clothing and quickly show each other as a symbol of solidarity and hope.
"Worn so it lay hidden under a collar or the hem of a skirt, then only brought out, quickly flashed as a means to identify each other. Quickly the "Safety Pin" was adopted by the Dutch underground as their unofficial insignia. But it wasn't just limited to the fighting resistance... Children, grandmothers, nursing mothers, everyone who struggled for their freedom wore the "Safety Pin" not just as an act of defiance but a symbol of hope and freedom."
This is shown in 1941 British war film 'One of Our Aircraft is Down'.
It's interesting to see how throughout it's lifespan, the safety pin has been used time and time again to represent a bond between people, as well as to break rules, whether it be quietly in The Netherlands or loudly in the Punk Era of the 1970s. Starting with Johnny Rotten using safety pins to keep his ripped clothing together, safety pins became a symbol for the punk sub-culture, defining what it was to be anti-establishment. In a way, the US citizens showing solidarity for the minorities after Trump was elected in 2016 had exactly the same idea.
10 Interesting facts about the safety pin:
- During WW11, the Dutch hid safety pins on their clothing and used them as a symbol of unity, hope, and defiance against the Germans.
- Johnny Rotten used safety pins to hold his ripped clothes together in the 1970's - sparking an era defining trend for the Punk subculture.
- In Mexico during an eclipse pregnant women pin safety pins to their clothing as close to their belly as possible to ward off evil spirits, protecting their unborn child.
- The design of the safety pin comes from the Fibula - an ornate brooch deriving from the bronze age that was only available to the upper classes and signified wealth.
- When the safety pin was first invented they were expensive and only available to buy on the first 2 days of the year - so men would give their wives 'pin money' - a phrase still used to this day.
- It's unlucky to find a safety pin in water (apparently).
- Ukrainian mothers pin safety pins to the inside of their children's clothing to ward off evil spirits.
- Indian women used to protect themselves from street harassment using safety pins.
- In Turkey, mothers will attach an Evil Eye bead to children's clothing with a safety pin. One study looked at the amount of safety pins that were ingested by children in Turkey. Over a 16 year period, 49 safety pins were ingested.
- (Apparently) Walter Hunt, inventor of the safety pin, died of gangrene - caused by an unattended pin prick, in 1859.
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