Pendant crosses are made from different metal alloys. Naturally, when worn, the cross can darken, fade and even turn black for a number of different reasons. Superstitious people may mistake the darkening of the cross for a warning from above. In fact, everything is explained by banal reasons that have nothing to do with mysticism.
It is necessary
Pectoral cross, water, dishwashing liquid, ammonia, tooth powder, soda
Instructions
Step 1
As a rule, copper, brass and bronze crosses turn black, as well as items made of silver (especially in an alloy with copper) or low-standard gold. This happens due to the chemical reaction of sweat, sebum, as well as moisture and oxygen contained in the air, with the metal from which the cross is made.
Step 2
People prone to a mystical view of things, suspicion and fear can say that the darkening of the cross is a sure sign of impending disaster. For example, it is believed that the owner of a darkened cross will certainly end up in an unpleasant life situation, get sick or die. Oddly enough, their fears are not without some basis. With metabolic disorders in sebum, the sulfur content may increase. Sulfur reacts with silver and copper, which are part of the alloys from which church crosses are cast, and the decoration darkens noticeably. However, not only the body of a sick person produces an increased amount of sulfur. This happens, for example, with hormonal changes caused by pregnancy. A lot of sulfur is also found in the bodies of people who prefer to dine on legumes, eggs and fish.
Step 3
A perfectly healthy person, whose body is not oversaturated with sulfur, may also find that his cross has turned dark. To do this, it is enough to live in areas with a humid climate, especially on the sea coast. And if not far from the house of the owner of the church decoration there is a chemical production and often smells of hydrogen sulfide, then the cross will almost certainly turn black. However, this is just the case when popular superstition is absolutely true: if you do not move away from the dangerous neighborhood with an industrial facility, this can threaten health problems.
Step 4
Crosses made in a good jewelry workshop from high-standard gold are the least likely to turn black. The reason is simple. Jewelers value their reputation and do not try to reduce the cost of their products by adding copper, nickel and other "base" metals to their alloys. Church craftsmen try to make inexpensive mass crosses, so the quality often suffers.
Step 5
Seeing that the cross has darkened, do not panic. This is not mysticism and not God's punishment, but ordinary chemistry. You can clean the cross or replace it with a more expensive one.
