Russian Life & People Digest
Question by : Why do babushka’s ensure women wear scarfs on their heads?
I ask because I read of this practice a few weeks ago, is there a deeper or older meaning than protection from cold?
i mean sometimes the old grandmothers want the younger women to wear scarves on their head?
Answers and Views:
Answer by kapn
Well…………a babushka is a head covering. Somewhat like a scarf………but not really……..
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K2010 says
very smart move
to protect their love ones from colds, hair loss since the youngsters refuse to wear hats
All over the world is the same. They don’t know how important it is until they are adults themselves
Zena E I AM THE WAY. says
Babushka is a correct work For GRANDMOTHER
The practice of wearing scarfs was for old married women..in villages ..
One should wear a head covering in Orothodox Churches too. ( as in many faiths)
and as Noted the correct word is Platok ( and the Babushka ( For Scarf/ Platot) is a foreign term
In USA AND Canada is is vogue to call the scarf, platok BABUSHKA
It is common for all proper ladies and women to wear a head covering in the Orthdoox Churches
( and many churches in the world for that matter)
Slava T says
I didn’t notice that. Anyway, all generations have their own ideas about what is appropriate clothing. For example, have a look at this “babushka” of all Britain and Commonwealth realms wearing a scarf.
http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gallery/clip/1B06326_0006.do
Queen Elizabeth II looks just like my Russian grand mom here.
Polynesian is absolutely correct; the only place universally considered as appropriate for wearing a scarf in Russia is a church. The rest is up to an individual’s sense of fashion.
polynesian says
Old grandmothers only ensure younger women wear scarves (kerchieves, shawls) on their heads if they are going to the church. In the Orthodox tradition women are only allowed into the church with the covered head. Males on the contrary – with the un-covered head.
Wave2012 says
No, they don’t impose scarfs to anybody.
To cover hair when woman is married was an old tradition. Since Soviet times this tradition is dead. I would say modern old women are the last generation who wear scarfs because it was usual thing for their mothers and grandmothers who were born before revolution. Younger generations don’t do it any more.
ML says
First of all, strictly, “babushka” is a Grandmother. However, all old women can be called “babushka”informally. Yes, it was an old tradition for old women to wear scarves, better known as “platok” on their heads.This tradition is still alive, mostly in villages. Anyway, “babushka” and a scarf are two different words.
Timofej Derevtsov says
This is an old Orthodox tradition: a scarfs shows that she is married. Scarfs in this sense are usually wear only deeply religious people.
In general, for utilitarian purposes scarves worn both sexes and all ages.
Alissa says
IThought they called the scarf a babushcka. I think its just tradition in some other non muslim counties,like russia,poland,parts of italy.