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I've come across 'some' information, but I am wanting to know the 'origins' of each one. I've become confused because some relate for instance, Melusine with Italian roots and meaning. Cimaruta, I've found some reference to it having German roots.

Then, the basic meaning seems to change based upon what else it is associated with. For instance, below in a description of what I mean.

Cimaruta...(This is a description of a pendant that a friend just received, it is beautiful)

The symbolism of the Cimaruta, which means sprig of rue, can be traced back to the pre-Roman Etruscan period. Originally a charm to protect against enchantments, over time it has become a symbol of the old religion in Italy. The enlargement of a single vervain blossom is associated with the fairy race. The rooster dispels darkness and heralds the dawn. The knife, Diana's dart, represents enlightenment as a ray of moonlight. The serpent represents the goddess Prosperpina, the moon Diana herself and the key is symbolic of Hecate.

Hope someone knows...thanks.

I took the liberty of renaming this thread.

I am not familiar with the symbol but have found that the Cimaruta charm is related to the Stregheria belief.
Here is a link for you to look at and to see if it helps answer your questions a little more.

Cimaruta charm

Wow...I had to look up what this charm looked like after reading this and I realized my Grandmother (who was Scilian) wore it for as long as I can remember. She told me that it was to ward off Evil. She had it annointed in Holy Water once a year, but I cant remember when (she died when I was 8). When my grandfather died last year, I found out that Nonni was a Strengarian Kitchen Witch, lol.,,most of her books and notbooks got thrown out though, which is terrible.

oh wow , to lose all that knowledge is so sad, maybe there are others in your family that she handed things down too.

Ive heard of this,and yes it is old.So old that I think its one of the oldest Italian symbols for witch.It symbolizes the sprig of Rue.
Here is more on this herb.

http://www.luckymojo.com/rueandcimaruta.html

I found some more on it. Some same facts, and some not. ;)


" Cimaruta, in Italian, means "Sprig of Rue," and the rue amulet is one of Italy's oldest cultural objects. The amulets, which are made of silver, depict a rue sprig with various small symbols in its branches, most commonly keys, crescent moons, daggers, stars, and flowers. The cimaruta of today is evolved from ancient Etruscan amulets; historical uses are as protective charms agains malevoloent magic, witchcraft, and the evil eye, especially for infants.

Ironically (perhaps intentionally so), the cimaruta has become associated with Strega (an Italian/Roman flavored for of Wicca), and so-called Italian Traditional Witchcraft, which appears to be largely based on the works of Charles Goeffry Leland, a nineteenth century author who penned several volumes on Italian witchcraft and folklore, including Aradia (The "Gospel of the Witches"), purporting to be the gospel of a secret Dianic Roman witchcraft tradition."

http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefscimaruta.htm