Curtain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Curtain (disambiguation).
A curtain (also known as a drape or drapery) is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light. Curtains are often hung on the inside of a building's window to block the travel of light, for instance at night to aid sleeping, or to stop light from escaping outside the building (stopping people outside from being able to see inside, often for privacy reasons). In this application they are also known as "draperies." Curtains come in a variety of shapes, materials, sizes, colours and patterns, and they often have their own sections within department stores, while some shops are completely dedicated to selling curtains. An adaptation of the curtain may be a blind or, in warmer countries, such as Spain, wooden shutters that are fixed to the outside of the building to provide privacy and still keep the building cool inside.
Curtains also provide visual separation in other situations, such as on a performance art stage where the actors make final preparations for the show behind the curtain while the audience waits in front of the curtain. If used for a particular performance, the curtain typically opens when the show begins and closes for substantial pauses in the performance.
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[edit] Religious significance
The curtain played a special role in Jewish and Christian history. A curtain separated the holy place, reserved for priests, from the most holy place, which was reserved exclusively for the Ark of the Covenant in the temple in Jerusalem (Exodus 26:31-33). According to the New Testament, as Jesus died "the curtain of the temple was torn in two," which is interpreted as a symbol of humanity's connection to God through the death of Jesus (Luke 23:45). Curtains also prevent men from seeing women on the second and third floors of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue.
[edit] Commercial curtains
With the increase in single family homes during the last century, the curtain and drapery industries have witnessed simultaneous growth in the demand for their products. Commercial interests also grew during that time as many companies tried to supply institutions, hotels, etc. During the second half of the 20th century, many companies profited while others went bankrupt. Offering good customer service and adapting to change, such as purchasing raw materials from overseas, has kept companies afloat, even during rougher times.
[edit] Care and cleaning
Curtains can be very difficult to clean and maintain. They often shrink or tear easily. Also, while dry cleaning curtains, all pins must be removed, then put back in once the process is complete.
