ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Anglo-Saxon brooches

Anglo-Saxon brooches are pretty pins that people in England a long time ago used to wear on their clothes. You know how you might have a favorite pin that you like to put on your jacket or backpack? Well, these brooches were like that for them.

The anglo-saxons were people who lived in England over a thousand years ago. They really liked to show off their style and jewelry, so they made lots of really fancy brooches. These brooches were usually made from metal, like gold or silver, and had really pretty designs. One of the most common designs was called a "penannular" brooch which means "almost a circle" in fancy grown-up talk. It looked like a circle with a gap in the middle, and they used it to fasten a cloak or a shawl.

The designs on the brooches were often based on things from nature, like animals or plants. They would also have colorful stones or other materials like glass or enamel with pretty patterns on the brooches to make them even fancier.

These brooches weren't just pretty, they were also really useful. People used them to keep their clothes closed so they wouldn't fall off. They would pin their cloaks or shawls together with the brooches and it would keep them warm and dry.

Nowadays, some people still really like the designs on these brooches and may wear them as a part of traditional outfits or for fun occasions. They are a neat way to connect with the past and show off some pretty jewelry too!