Know Your Veils: Christian Edition
The Mantilla
A mantilla is a traditional Spanish lace or silk veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulders, often over a high comb called a peineta, popular with women in Spain. It is also worn, without the peineta, by Eastern Orthodox women in Russia, often white, with the ends crossed over neck and draped over the opposite shoulder. The shape, design and use are different from an ordinary veil.
The Apostolnik
An apostolnik or epimandylion is an item of clerical clothing worn by Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic nuns. It is a cloth veil that completely covers the head (except for the face), neck, and shoulders similar to the hijab worn by Muslim women, it is usually black, but sometimes white. It is sometimes worn with a skufia.
The Habit: Coif and Veil
Coif: This is the garment’s headpiece and includes the white cotton cap secured by a bandeau and a white wimple or guimpe of starched linen, cotton, or (today) polyester to cover the cheeks and neck. It is sometimes covered by a thin layer of black crape. The cornette was another type of coif.
Veil: This element is worn pinned over the coif head coverings and could be worn down to cover the face or up to expose it. The headpiece sometimes includes a white underveil as well.
The Kappe (Bonnet)
Commonly worn by Anabaptist groups such as the Amish and Mennonites. Girls and unmarried women typically (not always) wear black bonnets, while married women wear white ones.
The Netela
Worn in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Netela can be worn in different ways. For general wear, the Netela covers the back and shoulders and the border is folded up over the right shoulder, but when attending church the two layers of the Netela are opened and the border goes over both shoulders. When the border is worn around the face or shoulders, it is a sign of mourning, but in moments of leisure the border goes over the left shoulder.
The Dupatta
Not limited to Christian women. Dupatta, also Chunari, Chunri, Chunni, Odhni, Orni, Chādar-odhni, Pacheri, Orna or Unna is a shawl-like scarf and is essential to many women’s clothing (usually matched with the garment) from the Indian subcontinent. The dupatta is most commonly used as part of the women’s shalwar kameez costume and worn over the kurta and the gharara, but is originally part of the gagra choli outfit. The dupatta has long been a symbol of modesty in dress from the Indian subcontinent as its main purpose is as a veil.
The Kerchief (Hutterites)
Most Lehrerleut and Dariusleut Hutterites wear a kerchief-style Christian headcovering which is usually black with white polka dots. The Schmiedleut also wear a kerchief-style head cover, but without the dots. The polka dots tells which branch the women belong to. Young girls wear a bright, colorful cap that fastens under the chin.
