A Torah binder keeps the Torah closed when it is not in use. Different traditions of its form and decoration have arisen in various communities. For example, in Germanic (Ashkenazi) lands the swaddling cloth for the circumcision ceremony of a male child was used, decorated with words and images that wish him well, In Italy women embroidered floral patterns and sometimes inscriptions on a length of cloth, expressing hopes and thanks for important events. Often, the insides of letters are executed in exuberant patterns and vibrant colors, and the binders are ornamented with imagery related to the child.