Fez - a headdress in Eastern countries: description

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Even in ancient times, a headdress was a symbol of power, only noble people could afford luxurious hats, caps, wigs. The larger the hat, the higher was the rank of its owner. Nowadays, headwear is often associated with certain nationalities. Turban, fez, keffiyeh, skullcap, afgang, aishok, kokoshnik, bandana, hood and much more. Many types of hats are outdated and not used in everyday life, but many Muslims still prefer to wear this thing.

Turkish headwear

A red cap, made mainly of wool in the form of a cone, decorated with a silk tassel, is called a fez. This headdress got its name in eastern countries, namely in the city of Fes, where they first began to make it. It was mainly worn by soldiers and officials of the Ottoman Empire, but the fez was not a practical headdress for the army. The bright red color attracted attention, making it easy for the enemy to detect the target. Due to the lack of a visor, the oncoming sun blinded the soldiers. In today's world, these hatsremained part of the dress uniform of the Greek National Guard. Turks to this day pay tribute to history and wear this national headdress. Tourists of all countries are also not indifferent to Turkish fezzes and walk around in resorts in Turkey 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, a special berry grew. The juice of this berry could dye the fez and achieve a special red color, so the city of Fez had no competitors in the manufacture of these hats. There were no analogues of this paint, and all Muslims bought this type of headdress in this city. However, when they learned how to make artificial colors, many other countries began to make this hat. Austria became the center for the manufacture of this headdress with a tassel.

Description of the fez

The shape of this headdress resembles a cropped cone, at the top of which a black brush is inserted. Over time, colored fezzes were also used, hand-painted with silver and gold. Women wore red velvet fez headdresses, decorated with gold chains, silver coins, and hand embroidery. This headdress could be white, red and even black, but it was the red cap with black silk thread that was taken as the basis.

A bit of history

Mahmoud II had a negative attitude towards facial hair, sobanned men from wearing long beards and at the same time made changes to army uniforms. Previously, such an act did not please the soldiers, and caused a rebellion of the Janissaries and a change of leader. But this time it was not possible to avoid a new form. Accustomed to wide pants and a shirt, the Turks were surprised by the new tight-fitting form. Many considered it even indecent. The change of the usual headgear also did not please, hats with a semi-cylindrical top were introduced, they were very uncomfortable, and were soon replaced by a red felt fez. The new headgear also turned out to be not the most comfortable option for military personnel.

Interesting facts

Sultan Mahmud did not stop at changing the uniform of the military, he wanted to completely change life in the Ottoman Empire as soon as possible. He wanted to adjust his state to the European way. To this end, he changed the procedure for receiving guests: if earlier the Sultan was on the throne and watched what was happening, then Mahmud personally greeted the guests, entertained them, and talked. In the presence of the Sultan, everyone had to stand, but Mahmud removed this tradition as well. Cabinets of ministers began to resemble a modern interior - tables, low sofas and straight chairs. Continuing to develop the city, the Sultan built a military school, which taught new materials for the army. Teachers and students differed in uniform, the main element of which was a tall red fez with a black silk tassel.

Using this headgear

The inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire were obliged to wear it, because in the 19th century it becamepart of the national costume. The women's fez is shorter than the men's and has no tassel. To become part of a military uniform, this head unit was tested, and only after approval was it allowed to be worn. Once there was a proposal to sew leather sides to the fez so that the sun would 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. The sides will prevent you from reaching the ground with your forehead, and this is important for a true Muslim. There was an opinion that wearing a headdress during prayer was optional, but there was no clear answer from religious scholars, so this proposal was rejected.

Riot against the fez

In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia, the Turks organized a boycott of all goods imported from Austria, this number included fez hats. As an alternative, the Turks wore white fezzes with a turban from Asia Minor, and Persian hats and other headdresses also became fashionable. Soldiers wore colored fezzes without turbans. This red hat was kept by the local Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, they decorated it with gold embroidery, sewn on the name of the temple. This protest brought huge losses for the Austrian merchants. When pilgrimages to Mecca were interrupted during the era of the Crusades, pilgrims began to go to Fez, they called it the Holy City. University students wore a bright fez, pilgrims also joined this headdress model. After some time, the northern part of Africa again put on this headdress.

Mustafa Kemal

In the more modern history of Turkey, a politician Mustafa Kemal appeared, 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 Turkish state, unlike anything else. 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.

Soon a major uprising broke out, the people of Turkey were sure that England was behind the uprising because of Kemal's anti-religious attitude. He, taking 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 treason. Soon the dictator, having achieved his goal, began to further implement the plan.

His next step was the ban on wearing the fez, which was a symbol of Islam. First, he removed this headdress from the army uniform, then defiantly appeared in various hats and caps, then he even declared wearing a fez a crime. It would seem that the ban on the headdress is a stupid statement, but Mustafa Kemal did not think so and was sure that with this step he would completely eliminate the old traditions associated with Islam. This caused a storm of discontent, but the next step of the dictator simply plunged intoshock of all representatives of religion. He dissolved the monasteries and confiscated their property.

Thus, the era of fez headwear ended in Turkey right up to the modern world.