Tassels have been used as decorative elements on clothing, curtains, and other textiles across many cultures for thousands of years. But did you know that tassels actually carry deep spiritual symbolism as well?
If you’re wondering about the spiritual meaning behind tassels, you’ve come to the right place.
In short, tassels generally represent sacred connection, obedience to God’s laws, and being set apart for spiritual purposes. They remind the wearer of their commitment to living righteously. We’ll explore the intricate spiritual symbolism of tassels in depth here.
The Biblical Origins of Tassels
Tassels as Reminders of God’s Laws
The biblical origins of tassels can be traced back to the Book of Numbers in the Torah. God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that they should make tassels (tzitzit in Hebrew) on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel (Numbers 15:38).
The purpose stated is that when the Israelites see the tassels, they will remember all God’s commandments and be holy to God.
Later passages in Deuteronomy 22:12 and Exodus 39:24-26 also mention these “tasseled garments” as reminders to follow God’s laws and commandments. The blue cord in each tassel is symbolic – with blue being the color of heaven and the skies above, it serves as a continual reminder that the Israelites are a people set apart for God’s purposes.
Wearing tassels was about keeping God’s word fresh in memory. Whenever an Israelite moved about and the tassels waved in the wind, it would trigger them to recall and obey God’s life-giving words. Through the generations, devout Jews today still wear a four-cornered tallit prayer shawl with these fringes attached.
Tassels to Distinguish God’s People
There was also a second significance to these tasseled robes in the Torah – to distinguish the Israelites as God’s chosen people, separate from the pagan nations surrounding them. Numbers 15:39 notes that the tassels were meant for the Israelites to be reminded not to “follow after your own heart and your own eyes” in the ways of idol worshippers.
Even today, the sight of the tassels (tzitzit) descending from the four corners of the prayer shawls (tallitot) of Jewish men can identify them as a people devoted to observing God’s law and keeping His word hidden in their hearts.
| Significance | Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Reminders of God’s Law | Blue cord – reminder of heaven and belonging to God |
| Distinguishing God’s People | Identification marker to separate from pagan nations |
Jewish tassels contain intricate knotting and winding in a pattern that forms the shape of the Hebrew letter shin, the first letter of one of God’s names – Shaddai. This shape serves as yet another reminder for the devout to keep God foremost in their hearts and minds.
Tassels in Judaism
Tzitzit Tassels on Tallit Garments
In Judaism, tassels (tzitzit) hold deep spiritual meaning and symbolism. Jewish law commands that tassels be attached to the four corners of all tallit (prayer shawl) garments as a reminder of God’s commandments.
This commandment comes from Numbers 15:37-41 in the Torah, which instructs Jews to tie a cord of blue on the corners of their garments to remind them of God’s laws.
The knotted tassels, called tzitzit, consist of four strands, with 5-10-5-6 coils and knots separating a longer bottom strand from the others. The coils add up to 613, representing the 613 commandments in the Torah.
The techelet (sky-blue) dye of one strand symbolizes the sea, sky, Divine Throne, God’s glory, and more (source). So tassels spiritually connect Jews to heritage, laws, land, and God.
The 613 Commandments and Numerical Symbolism
The 613 knots and coils in tzitzit tassels correspond to the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah according to rabbinic tradition. These mitzvot guide Jewish life, worship, ethics, rituals, and more.
The numerical symbolism behind 613 holds spiritual meaning related to the Torah and God’s completeness:
- 6 represents the 6 orders of the Mishnah (Jewish Oral Law)
- 10 represents the Ten Commandments
- 13 represents God’s 13 Attributes of Mercy
- Altogether they symbolize the entirety of Jewish law encapsulated in the written and oral Torah
Tassels thus provide an ever-present physical reminder for Jews to follow God’s laws which govern all aspects of life. Touching the tzitzit also helps in fulfilling the mitzvot to remember all the Lord’s commandments (source).
| Statistic Source | Tzitzit Facts |
| Pew Research survey | 72% of Israeli Jews say tzitzit have religious significance |
| Chabad.org | Tzitzit are wrapped to form 7-8-11-13 winds per knot |
Christian Use of Tassels
Jesus and Tassels in the New Testament
In the New Testament, references are made to Jesus wearing the tassels prescribed by Mosaic Law. These tassels, called tzitzit in Hebrew, contained a blue thread to symbolize the heavenly realm. For Christians, Jesus wearing tzitzit connects his earthly ministry with divine mandate.
The tassels were an outward sign of obedience to God’s law.
There are a few theories about why the tzitzit were important to Jesus. Some scholars believe they represented Jesus’s role as the long-awaited Messaiah. Others posit that Jesus wore tzitzit to identify himself with the Jewish faith and affirm his mission to fulfill the Law rather than abolish it.
Still others view it as Jesus embracing his Hebrew heritage in a Roman-occupied land. Clearly, the tassels carried potent spiritual meaning even before Christianity came into being.
Tassels in Christian Vestments and Textiles
Beyond the biblical accounts, tassels and fringes adorn many Christian vestments and fabrics used in worship. For example, the prayer shawl is a common Christian garment with knotted tassels at the corners, echoing the designs mandated in Numbers 15.
Some shawls contain a blue thread in the tassels as a messianic reference. The knotted design makes each tassle unique while symbolizing unity and harmony.
Another Christian vestment using tassels is the tallit, a ceremonial robe worn in some traditions. The tassels on the tallit have up to 613 knots representing the 613 commandments in the Torah. This device allows reflection on biblical law during prayer.
Some cultures also make striking banners and tapestries featuring elaborate tasseled borders and fringes.
Clearly, the influence of ancient Jewish tassels continues today through vesture, shawls, banners, and other Christian fabrics used in times of worship and reflection. The original spiritual meaning shines through – one of divine connection, obedience, and heritage.
Tassels in Other Spiritual Traditions
Hinduism and Buddhism
In Hinduism and Buddhism, tassels and fringe trims made of silk or cotton threads are commonly seen on banners, flags, temple decorations, and clothing items. They symbolize auspiciousness, prosperity, and good fortune.
For example, the torana, an ornamental gateway to Hindu and Buddhist shrines, is often flanked with swaying tassels on the sides. The tassels are believed to usher in positive energy and ward off evil spirits.
Islam and Sufism
In Islam, green colored tassels and fringes feature prominently as decorations in mosques and on the kiswah, the silk coverings of the holy Kaaba in Mecca. In Sufism, tassels made from wool are ritually attached to doumbek drums.
The Sufi whirling dance is also performed while holding a tasseled hat called a sikke. The tassels aid the dervishes in achieving a trance-like state during their ecstatic dancing.
Shamanism and Native American Religion
Tassels and fringed clothing play an important role among shamans and in Native American spiritual traditions. Tassels represented spiritual power and were believed to manifest healing vibrations during sacred healing ceremonies.
For instance, Native American medicine men wore elaborately decorated tasseled regalia during rituals to invoke ancestral and animal spirits. According to research, over 75 Native American tribes incorporated tassels and fringes into their traditional healing costumes, conveying deep symbolic meaning related to movement, flow, and energy.
Interpreting the Symbolic Meanings
Sacred Connection
Tassels have long been used to represent the sacred connection between mankind and the divine realm (1). Many religions and spiritual traditions incorporate tassels into ritual garb or prayer shawls as a symbolic reminder of the presence of God/gods and the importance of living according to spiritual values.
For instance, in Judaism, tassels (tzitzit) affixed to the four corners of the prayer shawl (tallit) signify God’s commandments and serve as a sacred reminder for the wearer (2). Tassels adorning a Buddhist monk’s robe represent the purification of human defilements and the monk’s commitment to the spiritual path (3).
Obedience and Righteous Living
Across faiths, the religious tassel frequently symbolizes living in obedience to moral or spiritual laws laid out by a tradition’s sacred texts or authorities (4). For Christians, the knotted cord of Catholic rosary beads aids in prayers and meditation on the holy mysteries.
In Islam, embroidered tassels mark divisions of the Quran. And in Hinduism, the brahmin thread worn over the shoulder is intertwined with coming of age rituals and signifies adherence to dharma (duty, ethics).
By wearing special garments with attached tassels, individuals demonstrate symbolic alignment between spiritual ideals and righteous living. The very act of creating tassels—intentionally knotting cords or threading fine strands—represents concentrated focus on faithfully adhering to prescribed religious duties, moral codes, or spiritual practices.
Being Set Apart for Spiritual Purpose
Religious vestments with ornamental tassels indicate the wearer has been sanctified or set apart within the community for leadership or ritualistic duties (5). Examples include the knotted tassels on a Jewish prayer shawl, the beaded or silk tingatinga adorning ceremonial regalia of indigenous shamans, and the tasseled umbones on a Christian bishop’s mitre.
By boldly displaying sacred dress tassels, spiritual leaders visually broadcast their special status as teachers, healers, or officiates qualified to perform religious rites, speak divine truths, or commune with unseen realms.
Religious tassels thereby serve to validate claims of spiritual authority in the community.
| Percentage of Americans who say religion is important: | 53% in 2022 (6) |
With over half of Americans valuing faith, the symbolic tassel remains culturally relevant today. Whether subtly woven into handcrafted tapestries or prominently displayed on religious garb, the ancient ritual art form continues to attract spiritual meaning for modern practitioners across belief systems.
Conclusion
As we have seen, tassels carry deep spiritual symbolism across religions, representing sacred connection, obedience to divine law, and commitment to righteous living. Though tassels may seem like a simple decorative element, they remind the wearer of their spiritual purpose.
Hopefully this gives you a better idea of the profound spiritual meaning behind humble tassels. Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Hindu, or from another faith, tassels can serve as an ongoing reminder to lead a virtuous, ethical and spiritual life.
