Headscarves

[SueBaroo]

Ok, so, this is not an invitation to argument, just a simple fact-finding/interested sort of thread.

I've always been really intrigued by the variety of styles that muslim women have to cover their hair/upper body with. As a Christian, I did cover my hair for sometime, but the styles were much more basic.

Muslim women seem to have these elaborate swathes and shapes and I can never work out how they do it. Are there any links to explanations or picture demonstrations out there? Or is there actually a big cheaty secret snood garment that does all the tricky bits for you?

there is a guide on the bbc website, so obviously you are not alone wondering this!
you should be able to access it via any recent story about headscarves.

I think a few well placed kirbigrips stop it from falling, also if you safetypin it tightly under your chin it wont fall.

Christians don't traditionally have to cover their hair do they?? I learn new things on MN every day!

None of the Christians I know cover theirs.

lol @ sneaky snood

most of the muslim mums (quite a few) at dd's school just kind of have the scarf draped over their heads, no elaborate tucking and pinning.

any help?

I think part of it is a temperature thing - Muslim headdresses originated in much hotter countries than modern Christian ones so had a practical as well as a spiritual aspect.

Oh, cheers, MrsBadger, that's really cool. It appears that sometimes the effects are created by a cap underneath so the scarf can be draped all ways. Not far wrong on me 'sneaky snood' guess

Shiny, yeah, there's a few women at my church who do. It's the origin of the whole 'wear a hat to church' thing. It certainly not a common thing now though.

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yes, but that was what I meant bloss - modern-style Christian headcoverings grew out of Western/European styles of dress (hence Amish or Mennonite-type caps and bonnets, trad Catholic chapel caps, Brethren scarves etc) rather than directly from indigenous Mid-Eastern wear.

Although thinking about it I guess there is a link between a hijab and a nun's veil...

well, most styles of covering were connected to the fashion of the community they were part of right from ancient times. Christian women in the middle east will still wear a similar garment to the hijab, perhaps not all the time, but certainly to church.

They all look pretty different throughout history and different geography.

interesting Sue - never thought about covered Christian women in the Middle East...

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its all about fashion im afraid.
the more style you have, the better your scarf will look.
their is a guide on the bbc which i found very informative, despite growing up in the middle east where i though i knew everything there was to know about headscarves.

I think Yvonne Ridley wears a funky beaded undercap thing under her scarves, and it really suits her face shape.

(I meant contemporary covered Christian women in the etc, bloss)

Most of the women in Dh's former Christian church cover their heads in the service and there's a lot of pretty disappointing efforts on display tbh. Some are no better than a teeny weeny hanky with a kirby grip or two. If they're going to cover their hair for faith reasons then surely it should be more than just a nod to it? (Still talking about dh's church, not hijabs etc.)

The younger girls in the church are going for those thick headbands with the elastication at the back which I guess is following fashion.

But some of the 30 somethings who I think are old enough to know better have been seen in ....berets...

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We went on Sunday, actually, and I wore a rather funky bakers boy cap from New look. When we were getting there regularly I tended to wear more scarf-like things I've got some doilly lace ovals from when I first started, but they don't see the light of day anymore...

was only pondering possible reasons for the difference between contemporary Christian headwear (which followed Western fashions over the years) and contemporary Muslim headwear (which followed (or indeed set) Middle Eastern fashion)... no cultural debate intended

[runs away]

I think it's possibly because Islam is rather more specific about covering if you do, perhaps. The passage in 1 Corinthians 11 doesn't really specify what should be covered and what that means, it's just 'the head'.

I'm not familiar with the Islamic references, but I recall that it's something about the head and the chest area? I'm kind of hoping a Muslim mner will come and help me on that, lol.

good stuff on the bbc site

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Hi Sue [waves]

When I pray, I wear a long all in one garment that covers my entire being (except hands and face) which is great, don't have to get changed. When out and about generally choose a plain bandana (mainly neutral colours) with matching or coordinating hijab. Hijab placed on top of bandana, tiny safety pin at neck and excess material clipped at top of head with a hijab pin of same colour. For hectic days and when running late a two-piece hijab will suffice. Takes about 30 seconds to put on and no mirror required
I have friends of different nationalities who all wear their hijabs differently - one Nigerian friend has the most glamorous way of wearing hers, it's gorgeous and always so colourful, I tend to opt for neutral colours myself.
It's nice to see someone take an interest in hijab for a change - thanks, makes such a pleasant change

Thanks, ChaCha, it's helpful to have someone explain. I do like the ones that I think are the bandana under the scarf you mention.
There's ever such a pretty girl on the Islam Channel I've seen wearing that sort of style - I just couldn't work out how she got the different colours. How stupid am I? [rolling eyes emoticon]