Any covering for the head; element of clothing which is worn on one's head
This article is about accessories worn on the head for sociocultural purposes. For other uses, see
Headgear (disambiguation)
.
A collection of headgear
Portrait of a Lady wearing the
Order of the Swan
Headgear
,
headwear
, or
headdress
is any element of
clothing
which is worn on one's
head
, including
hats
,
helmets
,
turbans
and many other types. Headgear is worn for many purposes, including
protection
against the elements,
decoration
, or for religious or cultural reasons, including
social conventions
.
Purposes
[
edit
]
A
cheche
, worn in the Sahara as protection against wind and sand
Protection or defence
[
edit
]
Headgear may be worn for
protection
against cold (such as the Canadian
tuque
), heat, rain and other
precipitation
, glare,
sunburn
,
sunstroke
,
dust
, contaminants, etc.
Helmets
are worn for protection in battle or against impact, for instance when riding bicycles or motor vehicles. There are also hats that are worn for protection from the cold.
Fashion
[
edit
]
Headgear can be an article of
fashion
, usually
hats
,
caps
or
hoods
. The formal man's black silk
top hat
was formerly an indispensable portion of the suit, and women's hats have, over the years, attained a fantastic number of shapes ranging from immense confections to no more than a few bits of cloth and decorations piled on top of the head. Some hats, such as
Deep Blue Sea
, are showpiece creations created more as works of art than as practical items of fashion, and may be worth thousands or millions of dollars.
Woman in a
niq?b
, popular in the
Levant
region.
Religious significance
[
edit
]
Young Bedouin man wearing a
North African
version of the
fez
.
Some headgear is worn for religious reasons.
In
Judaism
, men cover their heads out of reverence for
God
. Jewish religious headgear for men include small cloth skull-caps, called
kippahs
or yarmulkes. Some men wear them at all times, others only in the
synagogue
. In Orthodox and
Hasidic Judaism
, the kippah may also be additionally covered by hats such as
fedoras
or
shtreimels
. Traditional married
Jewish
women cover their hair in various ways, such as with headscarfs, called
tichels
,
snoods
,
shpitzels
or wigs, called "sheitels", according to the principles and
halacha
of
tzniut
.
Traditionally, Christian women are required to wear a headcovering as taught in
1 Corinthians 11:2?16
(the same text teaches that men are to pray and worship with their head uncovered), which has been practiced since the time of the
early Church
and continues to be observed universally in certain denominations, such as in
Conservative Anabaptist
churches.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
The style of the headcovering varies by region, though the early Church's
Apostolic Tradition
specifies that
Christian headcovering
is to be observed with an "opaque cloth, not with a veil of thin linen".
[5]
With respect to
Christian clergy
, the
zucchetto
worn by
Roman Catholic
hierarchs is a skull-cap. Other forms of apostolic headgear include the
mitre
,
biretta
, tasselled cardinal's hat, and the
papal tiara
.
Orthodox Christian
clergy and
monastics
often wear a
skufia
, a
kamilavkion
, or a
klobuk
. The term
red hat
, when used within the
Roman Catholic Church
, refers to the appointment of a
Cardinal
, a senior "Prince of the Church", who is a member of the
electoral college
that chooses the
Pope
. On being appointed to the cardinalate, he is said to have received the
red hat
, or cardinal's biretta. In Lutheranism, many clergy wear the
ruff
and in Anglicanism, the
Canterbury cap
is popular among pastors.
[6]
Male
Sikhs
are required to wear
turbans
. Some Sikh women also wear a turban; however it is not a requirement for female Sikhs. Turbans are also worn by
Muslims
, especially
Shia Muslims
, who regard turban-wearing as
Sunnah Mu'akkadah
(confirmed tradition).
[7]
In
Islam
, the
hijab
, or headscarf, is worn by women because it is considered modest.
[4]
Muslim men also sometimes wear a skullcap called a "
kufi
" or
taqiyah (cap)
, especially during prayers. Headgear differs from culture to culture, and some Muslims' headgear is not related to their religion, such as the turbans worn in Saudi Arabia. The
doppa
, originating in the
Caucasus
, is worn by
Kazan
Tatars
,
Uzbeks
and
Uyghurs
. Muslim men in
Indonesia
and
Malaysia
are often seen wearing a
kopiah
, but its use pre-dates the arrival of Islam in the region.
The black satin headgear called or known as "fenta" or "topi" is a pillbox-shaped skullcap, worn by
Zoroastrians
. It is considered by some in the Zoroastrian religion to be of vital spiritual importance. In earlier times, a saucer-shaped, red-and-white-striped kipah was the hallmark of the Zoroastrian.
Buddhist
priests in
China
wear the
bao-tzu
(more commonly known as the
mao-tzu
, 帽子
Mandarin
maozi
), the classic skullcap that is the most like the Jewish tradition. In
Japan
, the cap is more in the form of a pillbox and is called the
boshi
(帽子). Though not of ecclesiastical significance, the Buddhist skullcap does denote something about the priest's standing in the community.
Moche ceramic vessel showing a warrior wearing headgear (Peru).
Symbol of status or office
[
edit
]
Headgear such as crowns and tiaras are worn in recognition of noble status especially among royalty. Wigs are worn traditionally by judges and barristers of Commonwealth nations.
[
citation needed
]
Feathered headpieces, such as the
war bonnet
of
Plains Indian
cultures, are worn by various Native North American and South American
indigenous peoples
.
[8]
Other uses
[
edit
]
Other purposes of headgear include:
Types
[
edit
]
Bonnets
[
edit
]
Drum major
wearing a
feather bonnet
Bonnets
, as worn by women and girls, were hats worn outdoors which were secured by tying under the chin, and often which had some kind of peak or visor. Some styles of bonnets had peaks so large that they effectively prevented women from looking right or left without turning their heads. Bonnets worn by men and boys are generally distinguished from hats by being soft and having no brim?this usage is now rare (they would normally be called caps today, except in
Scotland
where the "bunnet" is common in both civilian life and in the
Royal Regiment of Scotland
).
Caps
[
edit
]
Caps
are generally soft and often have no brim or just a peak (like on a baseball cap). For many centuries women wore a variety of head-coverings which were called caps. For example, in the 18th and 19th centuries a cap was a kind of head covering made of a flimsy fabric such as
muslin
; it was worn indoors or under a bonnet by married women, or older unmarried women who were "on the shelf" (e.g.
mob-cap
). An
ochipok
is part of traditional
Ukrainian
costume.
Crowns
[
edit
]
Some headgear, such as the
crown
,
coronet
, and
tiara
, have evolved into jewelry. These headgear are worn as a symbol of nobility or royal status.
Kokoshnik
is part of
Russian
traditional dress, often worn by nobility.
Fillets
[
edit
]
A
fillet
or
circlet
is a round band worn around the head and over the hair. Elaborate and costly versions of these eventually evolved into
crowns
, but fillets could be made from woven bands of
fabric
,
leather
,
beads
or
metal
. Fillets are unisex, and are especially prevalent in archaic to
Renaissance
dress.
Hair covers
[
edit
]
Hairnets
are used to prevent loose hair from contaminating food or work areas. A
snood
is a net or fabric bag pinned or tied on at the back of a woman's head for holding the hair.
Scarves
are used to protect styled hair or keep it tidy. Shower caps and
swim caps
prevent hair from becoming wet or entangled during activity.
Hats
[
edit
]
Napoleon Bonaparte
in his familiar
bicorne
hat
Hats
often have a brim all the way around the rim, and may be either placed on the head, or secured with hat-pins (which are pushed through the hat and the hair). Depending on the type of hat, they may be properly worn by men, by women or by both sexes.
Helmets
[
edit
]
Helmets
are designed to protect the head, and sometimes the neck, from injury. They are usually rigid, and offer protection from blows. Helmets are commonly worn in
battle
, on construction sites and in many
contact sports
(most commonly being associated with
American football
). In most of the United States they are required by law for anyone operating a range of vehicles including motorcycles, and sometimes extending to bicycles and skateboards.
Hoods
[
edit
]
Queen
Mary I of England
wearing a
French hood
Modern
hoods
are generally soft headcoverings which are an integral part of a larger garment, like an
overcoat
,
shirt
or
cloak
.
Historically,
hoods
were either similar to modern hoods, or a separate form of headgear. In medieval
Europe
hoods with short capes, called
chaperons
in French, were extremely common, and later evolved into elaborate and adaptable hats. Women's hoods varied from close-fitting, soft headgear to stiffened, structured hoods (e.g.
gable hoods
,
hennins
or
French hoods
) or very large coverings made of material over a frame which fashionable women wore over towering wigs or hairstyles to protect them from the elements (e.g. calash).
Masks
[
edit
]
A
mask
is worn over part or all of the face, frequently to disguise the wearer, but sometimes to protect the face. Masks are often worn for pleasure to disguise the wearer at
fancy dress
parties, masked balls, during
Halloween
or other festivals, or as part of an artistic performance. They may also be worn by criminals to prevent recognition or as camouflage while they commit a crime. Masks which physically protect the wearer vary in design, from guard bars across the face in the case of ice hockey goalkeepers, to facial enclosures which purify or control the wearer's air supply, as in
gas masks
.
Orthodontic headgear
[
edit
]
Full orthodontic headgear
Orthodontic headgear is used to control the growth of the
maxillary
and
mandibular
bones during
orthodontic
treatment. The most common treatment headgear is used to correct anteroposterior discrepancies. The headgear attaches to the braces via metal hooks or a facebow. Straps or a head cap anchor the headgear to the back of the head or neck. In some situations, both are used.
[9]
Elastic bands are used to apply pressure to the bow or hooks which is then transferred to the patients teeth and jaw. Its purpose is to slow or stop the upper jaw from growing, thereby preventing or correcting an overjet. Other forms of headgear treat reverse overjets, in which the top jaw is not forward enough.
[
medical citation needed
]
Turbans
[
edit
]
Moche ceramic vessel depicting a man wearing a turban.
Larco Museum
, Peru
Turbans
are headgear, mostly for males, made up from a single piece of cloth which is wrapped around the head in a wide variety of styles. Turban is the best known word in English for a large category of headgear and general head wraps traditionally worn in many parts of the world. All over the world
Sikhs
wear a turban as religious headgear.
Turbans for women are a popular choice during chemotherapy treatment as an alternative to wigs, hats, headscarves and headbands. Sikh women also wear turbans as a religious practice. Turbans for women made in natural fabrics are both comfortable and functional. The Breast Cancer Care booklet,
Breast Cancer and Hair Loss
, suggests: "You may want to wear a soft hat or turban in bed to collect loose hairs."
[10]
[11]
Veils and head wraps
[
edit
]
Hesquiat
woman veiled in a shawl
A
veil
is a piece of sheer fabric that covers all or part of the face. For centuries women covered their hair, neck, ears, chin, and parts of the face with fabric. Each culture created elaborate head wraps for women and men using a
shawl
,
headscarf
,
kerchief
or veil. Very elaborate veiling practices are common in
Islam
,
Africa
and
Eastern Europe
. Women who do not cover their head on a regular basis, often use a veil in traditional
wedding
and
funeral
ceremonies.
Wigs
[
edit
]
Wigs
are headpieces made from natural or synthetic hair
[12]
which may be worn to disguise
baldness
or thin hair, or as part of a
costume
. A
toupee
may be worn by a man to cover partial baldness. In most
Commonwealth
nations, special wigs are also worn by
barristers
,
judges
, and certain
parliamentary
officials as a symbol of the office.
Culture-specific types
[
edit
]
Dhari
[
edit
]
The dhari, also spelt dhoeri, is a distinctive headdress worn by men of the
Torres Strait Islands
, which lie in the
Torres Strait
between Australia and
Papua New Guinea
, for dance performances or cultural ceremonies. It is traditionally made with a
pearl shell
or
turtle shell
in the middle and decorated with white feathers,
[13]
traditionally from the
frigate bird
or
Torres Strait pigeon
, although now made with a variety of materials.
[14]
The head is often shaken to produce a shimmering effect while dancing.
[15]
Dhari
, the word used in the eastern islands of the strait, is the
Meriam Mir
word for "headdress". In the central and western islands, it is known as
dhoeri
, in the
Kala Lagaw Ya
language of those islands.
[15]
The dhari is today a potent symbol for
Torres Strait Islander people
, and used in the
Torres Strait Islander Flag
.
[13]
[16]
Torres Strait Islander artists such as
Alick Tipoti
[17]
and
Ken Thaiday Snr
create dhari as artworks.
[18]
[19]
War bonnet
[
edit
]
War bonnets
, which usually include an array of feathers, are worn mostly by men in various
Plains Indian
cultures in the United States. They are linked to status, culture and ceremony, and have to be given as gifts as a mark of respect for the receiver.
[20]
Etiquette
[
edit
]
In the
Western
culture derived from
Christian
tradition, removing one's headgear is a sign of respect, especially indoors, making oneself more open, humble or vulnerable, much like bowing or kneeling. This is as if to say, "I acknowledge that you are more powerful than I am, I make myself vulnerable to show I pose no threat to you and respect you." Men's hats are removed in Church, and not removing them is usually frowned upon. Women, however, are required to wear a hat to cover the head in some churches based on
1 Corinthians 11:5
.
Man wearing a
kippah
and a
head-tefillah
In the
Jewish
tradition, the converse idea equally shows respect for the superior authority of God. Wearing a
kippah
or
yarmulke
means the wearer is acknowledging the vast gulf of power, wisdom, and authority that separates God from mankind. It is a sign of humility to wear a yarmulke. There is a common
[
weasel words
]
phrase that explains this, saying that "there's always something above" one who is wearing a yarmulke, helping one remember one is human and God is infinite. A Talmudic quote speaks of a righteous man who would "not walk (six feet) with an uncovered head, the (spirit of God) is always above him". Jews also may wear a fur hat or a black hat with a brim.
In
Islamic
etiquette, wearing headgear, traditionally the
taqiyah (cap)
, is permissible while saying prayers at a
mosque
.
[21]
Hat tip
In the
military
, there are specific rules about when and where to wear a hat. Hats are generally worn outdoors only, at sea as well as on land; however, personnel carrying firearms typically also wear their hats indoors. Removing one's hat is also a form of
salute
. Many
schools
also have this rule due to the fact that many younger men tend to wear baseball caps and this being in relations to
gangs
depending on the side in which the hat is worn.
A hat can be raised (briefly removed and replaced, with either hand), or
"tipped"
(touched or tilted forward) as a greeting.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Bercot, David W. (1992).
Common Sense: A New Approach to Understanding Scripture
. Scroll Publishing Co. p. 68.
ISBN
978-0-924722-06-6
.
Hippolytus, a leader in the church in Rome around the year 200, compiled a record of the various customs and practices in that church from the generations that preceded him. His
Apostolic Tradition
contains this statement: "And let all the women have their heads covered with an opaque cloth, not with a veil of thin linen, for this is not a true covering." This written evidence of the course of performance of the early Christians is corroborated by the archaeological record. The pictures we have from the second and third centuries from the catacombs and other places depict Christian women praying with a cloth veil on their heads. So the historical record is crystal clear. It reveals that the early generation of believers understood the head covering to be a cloth veil?not long hair.
- ^
"Veil"
. Early Christian Dictionary
. Retrieved
7 September
2021
.
- ^
Earle, Alice Morse (1903).
Two Centuries of Costume in America, Vol. 2 (1620?1820)
. The Macmillan Company. p. 582.
One singular thing may be noted in this history, ? that with all the vagaries of fashion, woman has never violated the Biblical law that bade her cover her head. She has never gone to church services bareheaded.
- ^
a
b
Hunt, Margaret (11 June 2014).
Women in Eighteenth Century Europe
. Taylor & Francis. p. 58.
ISBN
9781317883876
.
Today many people associate rules about veiling and headscarves with the Muslim world, but in the eighteenth century they were common among Christians as well, in line with 1 Corinthians 11:4-13 which appears not only to prescribe headcoverings for any women who prays or goes to church, but explicitly to associate it with female subordination, which Islamic veiling traditions do not typically do. Many Christian women wore a head-covering all the time, and certainly when they went outside; those who did not would have been barred from church and likely harassed on the street. … Veils were, of course, required for Catholic nuns, and a veil that actually obscured the face was also a mark of elite status throughout most of Europe. Spanish noblewomen wore them well into the eighteenth century, and so did Venetian women, both elites and non-elites. Across Europe almost any woman who could afford them also wore them to travel.
- ^
"On Head Coverings"
. Classical Christianity. 11 January 2012
. Retrieved
25 January
2022
.
And let all the women have their heads covered with an opaque cloth, not with a veil of thin linen, for this is not a true covering. (Apostolic Tradition Part II.18)
- ^
Hurton, William (1851).
A Voyage from Leith to Lapland: Or, Pictures of Scandinavia in 1850
. R. Bentley. p. 59.
The clerk removed his mantle at the conclusion of this part of the service, and he then retired to robe himself in a black gown and high white ruff (the every-day costume of the Lutheran clergy), in which he subsequently delivered his sermon. He also read and chanted in this black gown during a portion of the service.
- ^
Haddad, Sh. G. F.
"The turban tradition in Islam"
. Living Islam
. Retrieved
5 August
2013
.
- ^
"Native American Headdresses: Facts for Kids"
. Retrieved
27 August
2013
.
- ^
Children and Orthodontics: Types of Braces, Retainers, Headgear. www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/children-and-orthodontics WebMD describes common types of orthodontics for children, including braces headgear, and retainers.
- ^
"Breast cancer and hair loss (BCC54) : Breast Cancer Care - Support and information for anyone affected by breast cancer"
. Archived from the original on November 25, 2009
. Retrieved
2011-05-06
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link
)
- ^
Kanti Ghosh, Sumit (2023-05-18).
"Body, Dress, and Symbolic Capital: Multifaceted Presentation of PUGREE in Colonial Governance of British India"
.
Textile
: 1?32.
doi
:
10.1080/14759756.2023.2208502
.
ISSN
1475-9756
.
S2CID
258804155
.
- ^
Georga, Yianna.
"Syntetic & Natural Wigs"
.
website
. YiannaGR
. Retrieved
17 September
2013
.
- ^
a
b
"Headdress, Dari or Dhoeri, Meriam, Palm Island, East, Queensland, Australia, 1930s"
.
Museums Victoria
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
Marlow, Karina (29 September 2016).
"10 things you may not know about the Torres Strait Islands"
.
NITV
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"Dhari"
.
Queensland Museum
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
"Torres Strait Islander flag"
.
Torres Strait Island Regional Council
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
"Alick Tipoti"
.
Australian War Memorial
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
"Torres Strait land and sea dhari headdress"
.
Cairns Art Gallery
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
"
'Green Dancing Dhoeri (Dhari)' by John Barsa"
.
Powerhouse Collection
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
"Behind First Nations headdresses: What you should know"
.
CBC News
. 27 March 2016
. Retrieved
7 December
2021
.
- ^
Ebrahim, Mufti (2003-06-21).
"Q & A: Wearing Cap While Praying"
. Albalagh.net
. Retrieved
2013-12-27
.
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Headgear
.
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