Do Anabaptists "own" the women's headcovering?

[Wayne in Maine]

Yes, I hear what you are thinking “So Mennonite women wear their underwear on their heads!”

Thanks fort that mental image

It was not original. I read in in a very detailed book written by a woman concerning the history of “the veil”. The image has been stuck in my head for 25 years since, I though I would share it to relieve myself of the burden I have borne.

[steve-in-kville]

I remember the hearing the mindset that requiring strings on the coverings would keep them from getting smaller. Wives' tale for sure.

[Grace]

I don't know why mesh started being used. Younger women started doing it first. It seemed to be a fad that sort of stuck.

Outer bonnets kept a woman's head and ears warm and kept them from getting sunburn as much. (They still do today among Old Orders)
Conservatives who still practice this get very little physical benefit as they are too small to do much good. They have invented reasons like, "it protects the sacredness of the covering when out in public", etc.

Interestingly, bonnets became a fashion item in the 1800's. Because of this, there are some Amish groups that forbid bonnets and only allow straw hats and scarves for women like the practice was in Europe. (can't find a picture right now) Some Old Colony Mennonites do the same.

Actually the purpose of wearing the black bonnets in the past, were to protect the fabric of the covering. Before the advent of nylon and polyester the fabric used in coverings shrank when exposed to the elements such as rain. Today wearing the black Sunday bonnet has continued merely as a tradition and is a symbol of being more conservative. However Sunbonnets were made to protect the wearer from the sun when a woman was outside. Sunbonnets were worn by Mennonite and non-Mennonite women in the past. Interestingly the plain ladies who wore black bonnets on Sundays, often used cheerful bright colored fabrics on their sunbonnets during the week.

The same could be said about attaching strings to a covering. In the past the strings were used to tie the covering in the front and served a purpose. Now the strings are a tradition and a sign of being conservative.

[Grace]

I remember the hearing the mindset that requiring strings on the coverings would keep them from getting smaller. Wives' tale for sure.

I think that mindset is true and not a wives tale.

[steve-in-kville]

I remember the hearing the mindset that requiring strings on the coverings would keep them from getting smaller. Wives' tale for sure.

I think that mindset is true and not a wives tale.

That was the working theory among the conservative Brethren circles. In our area the Horning church (and Joe Wengers?) are the only mennonite groups that push strings. Could be wrong, though.

[Ken]

I remember the hearing the mindset that requiring strings on the coverings would keep them from getting smaller. Wives' tale for sure.

I think that mindset is true and not a wives tale.

The same people would probably also complain if some women went against the grain and made them bigger and less transparent. Because it is about conformity.

[steve-in-kville]

I remember the hearing the mindset that requiring strings on the coverings would keep them from getting smaller. Wives' tale for sure.

I think that mindset is true and not a wives tale.

The same people would probably also complain if some women went against the grain and made them bigger and less transparent. Because it is about conformity.

I've seen that happen!

[KrisKramer]

I remember the hearing the mindset that requiring strings on the coverings would keep them from getting smaller. Wives' tale for sure.

I think that mindset is true and not a wives tale.

The same people would probably also complain if some women went against the grain and made them bigger and less transparent. Because it is about conformity.

I have witnessed that

(Same with making dresses longer)

[steve-in-kville]

I remember a point in time when most local mennonite churches were afraid of the hanging veil, even though (IMO) they were a lot more modest than most mesh caps. I see that tide turning a little, though.

[Valerie]

I remember a point in time when most local mennonite churches were afraid of the hanging veil, even though (IMO) they were a lot more modest than most mesh caps. I see that tide turning a little, though.

I remember a beachy Amish couple we knew where the husband and the wife disagreed about the mesh cap. The husband was trying to encourage her to wear more of a veil because he said the mesh covering was more of a hair ornament it was small and didn't really appear as a veil or a covering. She was used to it and did not want to change. I never knew if their church had a standard about it or not, he has since gone to be with the Lord