Religious clothing

Religious clothing is dress which has a special significance to a faith group.

Christianity

Il ministrante, by Giacomo di Chirico (1844–1883).

Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religions, especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutheran Churches. Other groups also make use of vestments, but this was a point of controversy in the Protestant Reformation and sometimes since - notably during the Ritualist controversies in England in the 19th century. Clerical clothing is non-liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy. It is distinct from vestments in that it is not reserved specifically for services.

Adherents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other sects within the broader Latter Day Saint Movement often receive special garments at or around the age of eighteen. The garments, which are worn at all times under typical clothing, date back to the early days of Mormonism, originating with Mormon founder and prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., and have evolved over time. Members believe that wearing these garments can protect them from physical and spiritual danger, and serve to remind them of covenants they have made with God and Jesus Christ.

Ecumenicism

A Peace Mala is a symbolic bracelet used to promote the message of the Golden Rule of mutual respect recognised by many spiritual paths. It consists of 16 beads, forming a double rainbow, which represent Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Bahá'í, ISKCON, Zoroastrianism, Tribal and Native Religions, Jainism, Earth Religions, Taoism, Hinduism and Yungdrung Bön, with the central white bead representing the wearer and whatever path they may follow.^[1]

Judaism

Red string in Kabbalah.

A kippah is a cloth head covering worn by Jewish males during prayer or other ritual services. Some wear it every day. In the United States, most synagogues and Jewish funeral services keep a ready supply of kipot for the temporary use of visitors who have not brought one.

Tzitzit are specially knotted ritual fringes, or tassels worn by some Jewish men and boys. Tzitzit are attached to the four corners of the tallit (Jewish prayer shawl).

The tichel is a headscarf worn by some Jewish women. Some women wear them during prayer and religious rituals; some women wear them every day.

The gartel is a belt used by some Jewish men during prayer. "Gartel" is Yiddish for "belt."

Some Jewish men wear a frock coat during prayer and other specific occasions. It is commonly worn by rabbis and Jewish religious leader in public. The coat is known as a frak, a sirtuk, or a kapotteh.

In Jewish Mysticism, wearing a thin red string (as a type of talisman) is a custom, popularly thought to be associated with Judaism's Kabbalah, in order to ward off misfortune brought about by an "evil eye" (עין הרע in Hebrew). In Yiddish the red string is called a roite bindele. The red string itself is usually made from thin red wool thread. It is worn, or tied, as a type of bracelet or "band" on the left wrist of the wearer (the receiving side).^[1]

Islam

Dress in Islam varies from country to country. The Quranic sura An-Nur ("The Light") prescribes modesty in dress. These prescriptions have been interpreted differently in different regions of the Islamic world: in many countries a headscarf is usual, whereas in Saudi Arabia the niqab is typical, and in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan the burqa is common.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Religious clothing.