Mennonite Headcoverings (Part 1)

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  They are worn as traditional garments by some, as a symbol of church membership by others, and as a Biblical commandment by some. Styles, patterns, color and age of when to use it depends on the church's interpretation of it. Also, please note there is a difference between a bonnet and a veil. Both are a form of headcovering, but are not the same.
                   Old Colony Mennonites
                    Shipyard & Little Belize

When at home, unmarried girls sometimes leave off their headcovering

                   
The headcovering is usually a white kerchief (veil) placed over the whole head and tied in the back, just behind the ears and a little below the hairline. Solid white, flowered white, and white with drops of colors. Married women switch to black after their wedding day. A thicker, bulkier one is used by married women during church services and at funerals. Girls begin wearing a headcovering from childhood on, not consistently or daily, for school and outside traveling it becomes mandatory. Ladies' straw hats are commonly used during traveling and while working outside, but it has to do with cultural tradition rather than anything doctrinal, however there are specifications to follow concerning the hats.

                Old Order Mennonites
         Springfield & Upper Barton Creek
   It is in many ways a traditional garment to these folks, yet many also understand there is a Biblical base for it. Consequently girls begin wearing coverings from babyhood on. Unlike the Old Colony from Shipyard, girls and women are rarely seen without their headcovering (veil), even at home. The covering is a black kerchief which covers the whole head and ears and is tied under the chin instead of behind the head like the Old Colony. Instead of straw hats for going out in public, many of the ladies use a black bonnet (see picture below). You will sometimes see white bonnets or coverings being used by adult women, but the persons are either visitors or don't belong to the Old Order but are still affiliated with it.



          Extra Conservative Mennonites
                             (Old Colony) 
 Those who are made up of the extra conservative branch of Old Colony Mennonites such as the ones from Lower Barton Creek, Pine Hill, and Red Bank resemble the Old Order Mennonites of Springfield and Upper Barton Creek in dress and lifestyle but their headcovering is used in the same fashion as Shipyard (Old Colony), although it is always black, never with extra colors on it.




  To read part 2, click here:
https://belizemennonites.blogspot.com/2018/02/mennonite-headcoverings-part-2.html

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