Silly question alert

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I've been wondering about this for ages.

From time to time I've seen women wearing handkerchiefs/small scarves in their hair - usually very long hair, so that it's kind of tied back. They're usually wearing long skirts or dresses - so quite conservatively dressed - and as my only social life now revolves around playgrounds and parks, they've often got lots of kids - the little girls also tend to wear the handkerchief scarf things in their hair as well.

Have been wondering for ages if they're affiliated with some kind of religion, or is it a cultural thing and if so, what?

Sorry if this is coming across as a very ignorant question, but I'm sure someone here will know!

plymouth brethren i think
enid is expert on this

You see - I knew someone would know!!! Shall go and google - thanks!

Oh yes... loads on this area (Lincoln). They are the Plymouth Bretheren. They drive huge estate cars or people carriers and seem to favour Tesco over other supermarkets.

I'm googling but can't find anything which explains the handkerchiefs and long hair. But it's all very interesting and I might well strike up a conversation with someone one day that starts, "So, are you in the Plymouth Brethren?" I only wonder so much about the women and how they look and what they wear because I think when I've seen the men with them, they look completely 'ordinary' - in that they don't wear anything in particular/cover their heads/grow their hair etc.

We have a big family of Plymouth Bretheren living up the street.I often see the little girls playing out and they are lovely,unfailingly polite and always come and talk to my baby girl as I pass with my buggy.I dont really know the relevance of the people carriers/estate cars/4x4s but since previous poster mentioned it I have noticed they have several such vehicles parked in the drive,I assume to cater for a large family!! Interesting huh? Dunno about the reason for the headscarf.Maybe a plymouth bretheren mumsnetter will be able to enlighten us!!!

I don't think they ever wear make-up or trousers either.

Some info here .

i found brethren.org verry helpful when dd2 wanted to know more about the girl in her class

Thanks,Jackie,another of lifes little mysteries solved!

arrhh you batted me

am I the only one getting a pic of a bat from abbysmums link..??