Feska - headdress in Eastern countries: description

Even in antiquity, the hat was a symbolauthorities, only noble persons could afford luxurious hats, caps, wigs. The bigger the hat, the higher the rank of its owner. Nowadays, headgear is often associated with certain nationalities. Chalm, fez, kufia, skullcap, afghan, ayoshok, kokoshnik, bandana, bashlyk and much more. Many types of caps have become obsolete, and they are not used in everyday life, however many Muslims still prefer to wear this thing to this day.

Turkish Headpiece

A red cap, made primarily ofWool in the form of a cone, decorated with a silk brush, is called a fez. It received its name in Eastern countries, namely in the city of Fez, where it was first produced. Most of it was worn by soldiers and Ottoman officials, but the practical headgear fez for the army was not called. The bright red color attracted attention, thus the enemy was easy to detect the target. Because of the absence of a visor, the opposing sun blinded the soldier. In the modern world, these caps remained part of the ceremonial form of the Greek National Guard. The Turks still pay tribute to history and wear this national headdress. Tourists of all countries are also not indifferent to Turkish fez and resorts in Turkey pacing in such a hat.

Origin of the fez

The city of Fez was famous for its schools, libraries,universities, was very culturally developed. In one of the regions of this city grew a special berry. The juice of this berry could be painted fez and achieve a special red color, so the city of Fez had no competitors in the manufacture of these headdresses. There were no analogues of this paint, and all Muslims bought this kind of headdress in this city. However, when they learned to make artificial colors, many other countries began to make this cap. The center for the manufacture of this headdress with a tassel was Austria.

Description of the fez

In form this headpiece resembles a croppedThe cone, at the top of which is inserted a black brush. Over time, colored fezes were also used, hand painted with silver and gold. Women wore red velvet headdresses of the fez, adorned them with gold chains, silver coins, hand embroidered. This headpiece could be white, red and even black, but it was the red cap with the black silk thread that was taken as the basis.

A bit of history

Mahmoud II was negative aboutvegetation on the face, therefore forbade men to wear long beards and at the same time introduced changes for army uniforms. Previously, this act did not make the soldiers happy, and caused the Janissary's mutiny and the change of the leader. But this time it was not possible to avoid a new form. Accustomed to wide pants and shirt, the Turks were surprised by the new tight fitting shape. Many found it even indecent. The change of the usual headgear was also not happy, hats with a semi-cylindrical top were introduced, they were very uncomfortable, and soon replaced with a red felt fez. The new headgear was also not the most convenient option for military personnel.

Interesting Facts

Sultan Mahmud on changing the uniform of the military does notstopped, he wanted to completely change life in the Ottoman Empire in the shortest possible time. He wanted his country to adjust to the European way. To this end, he changed the order of reception of guests: if the sultan had been on the throne before and observed what was happening, Mahmud personally greeted the guests, entertained them, talked. In the presence of the Sultan, everyone had to stand, but Mahmud also removed this tradition. The cabinet of ministers began to resemble a modern interior - tables, low sofas and direct chairs. Continuing to develop the city, the sultan built a military school, which taught new materials for the army. Teachers and students differed in form, the main element of which was a tall red fez with a black silk tassel.

Applying this headgear

Residents of the Ottoman Empire were obliged to wear it,because in the 19th century it became part of a national costume. The female fez is shorter than the male and does not have a tassel. To become part of the military uniform, this head unit was tested, and only after approval it was allowed to wear. Once there was a proposal to sew leather edges to the fez, so that the sun did not blind the eyes of the soldiers. At first glance, a very useful innovation, but in this design it will be inconvenient to pray in it. Bortics will stop getting your forehead to the ground, but for a true Muslim this is important. There was an opinion that wearing a headdress during prayer was optional, but there was no unequivocal answer from the religious scholars, so this proposal was rejected.

Riot against the feather

In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia, the Turks organized a boycott of all goods imported from Austria, including headdresses of the fez. As an alternative, the Turks wore white fezes with a turban of the production of Asia Minor, Persian caps and other headdresses also became fashionable. Soldiers wore colored fezes without turbans. This red cap remained at the local Nobility of the Mystic Shrine, they decorated it with golden embroidery, sewed the name of the temple. This protest brought huge losses to the Austrian merchants. When pilgrims broke up in Mecca during the Crusades, pilgrims began to go to Fez, they called it the Holy City. University students wore a bright fez, pilgrims also joined this model of the headdress. After a while, the northern part of Africa again put on this headdress.

Mustafa Kemal

In more modern history of Turkey appearedpolitical figure Mustafa Kemal, he also became the first founder of the modern Turkish state. He achieved the abolition of the rule of the sultans, abolished the occupation regime, created a completely new, unlike anything Turkish state. He actively developed science, Turkish writing, created new rights and codes, thereby achieving that Turkey was recognized as an official republic. All power was now in his hands. He abolished many traditions that had been going on since ancient times, and he was also a non-religious person. His dictatorship caused discontent among the population, especially among believers.

A major uprising broke out soon,the people of Turkey were confident that England was behind the revolt because of the anti-religious attitude of Kemal. He took advantage of the opportunity, announced that England was a threat to the Turkish people, and a decree was issued: the manifestation of religion in any form is considered a betrayal of the homeland. Soon the dictator, having achieved his goal, began to continue to implement the plan.

The next step was the ban on wearing a fez,which was a symbol of Islam. First he removed this hat from an army uniform, then demonstratively appeared in various hats and hats, then declared altogether the wearing of a fez as a crime. It would seem that the ban on headwear is a stupid statement, but Mustafa Kemal did not think so and was confident that by this step he would completely eliminate the old traditions associated with Islam. This caused a storm of discontent, but the dictator's next step simply shocked all representatives of religion. He dissolved monasteries and confiscated their property.

Thus, in Turkey, the era of fez headdresses has ended up to the modern world.