A headdress like a turban is associated with eastern countries. However, in Russia it was also worn. Therefore, we can safely say that the turban is also one of the traditional headdresses of the Russian people.
Turban - what is it?
A turban is a piece of cloth that is tied around the head. Such a headdress is very popular among the peoples of North Africa, Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. Turbans are usually worn on fez, skullcaps or hats. And only representatives of the Shiite clergy wear a headdress directly on their heads. A turban is often called a turban. Some people claim that there are differences between the two headdresses. It is difficult to say how true these statements are.
In the 17th century, the fashion for turbans came to Western Europe. At first, they were worn only by representatives of the nobility, later the headdress became popular among other classes. Even women have introduced it into their wardrobe. They put on a headdress only on special occasions, generously decorating it with precious stones and pearls.
Even Marie Antoinette, the French queen, wore a turban. Actresses Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo, Barbra Streisand also used this wardrobe detail. Nowadays, turbans are sometimes used to create images of show business stars and socialites.
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Russian turban
The turban was also used in Russia. In the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, to this day, the icon "Xenia with a Life", dated 1551, is kept. It depicts young men in rich clothing, each of them has a turban with a feather on their heads.
The book "Notes on Muscovy" by Sigismund Herberstein (1576) contains several engravings depicting the receptions of foreign ambassadors in Russia. They show that Russian dignitaries and princes wear headdresses in the form of a turban, decorated with feathers. In the background, there are Cossacks wearing turbans on their heads.
In German prints, the famous ataman Stepan Razin also flaunts in a turban. In the French book "Description of the Universe …" by Allan Malet, you can see another engraving, which depicts Russians in long caftans, with bows, muskets and turbans. According to experts, the headdresses of the Russian boyars strongly resemble the traditional Ottoman turbans. It is possible that they have the same origins.
When did turbans appear in Russia?
One can only assume that the tradition of wearing a turban in Russia originated during the Tatar-Mongol yoke. In those years, the Russians adopted a lot from the Tatars. However, at the same time, the "Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language" says that the word "turban" comes from the Old Slavic word "chelo" (in other words - "forehead"). Yes, and they began to wear it back in the pre-Christian era in Russia. Such a headgear protected well from dust, heat and cold. It was easy to wash.
The turban was very popular with representatives of the nobility, warriors and court nobility. It is known for certain that it was worn by Ivan the Terrible, Vasily III. Experts suggest that the word "helmet" could well come from the word "turban". An interesting fact is that Peter I himself is depicted in one of the portraits in a turban. In the seventeenth century, the fashion for turbans in Russia gradually faded away. The turban was still worn only in the Cossack environment.
Author: Alexander Nedashkovsky
