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Veil

Veils are articles of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, which cover some part of the head or face.

History

For many centuries (until around 1175) Anglo-Saxon and then Anglo-Norman women, with the exception of young unmarried girls, wore veils that entirely covered their hair, and often their necks up to their chins. It was not until the Tudor period (1485), when hoods became increasingly popular, that veils of this type became less common.

For centuries, women have worn sheer veils, but only under certain circumstances. Sometimes a veil of this type was draped over and pinned to the bonnet or hat of a woman in mourning, especially at the funeral and during the period of "high mourning". They would also have been used, as an alternative to a mask, as a simple method of hiding the identity of a woman who was traveling to meet a lover, or doing anything she didn't want other people to find out about. More pragmatically, veils were also sometimes worn to protect the complexion from sun and wind damage (when un-tanned skin was fashionable), or to keep dust out of a woman's face.

Veils with hats

Frances Perkins wearing a veil after the death of president Roosevelt

Veils pinned to hats have survived the changing fashions of the centuries and are still common today on occasions when women wear hats. However, these veils are generally made of netting or another material not actually designed to hide the face from view, even if the veil can be pulled down, which is not always the case. Mantillas are still worn by Spanish women during religious ceremonies.

Nuns' headdresses

A similar veil forms part of a nun's headdress; this is why a woman who becomes a nun can be said "to take the veil". The nun's veil covers the top of the head and flows down around and over the shoulders. In Western Christianity, it does not wrap around the neck or face. In Eastern Orthodoxy, a veil called an epanokamelavkion is used by both nuns and monks, the former using it to cover their necks and shoulders as well as their heads.

Muslim women

A variety of headdresses worn by Muslim women in accordance with hijab (the principle of dressing modestly) are sometimes referred to as veils or headscarves. Many of these garments cover the hair, ears and throat, but do not cover the face (for example the dupatta, khimar and buknuk). The niqab and burqa are two kinds of veils that cover most of the face except for a slit or hole for the eyes. The Afghan burqa covers the entire body, obscuring the face completely, except for a grille or netting over the eyes to allow the wearer to see. The boushiya is a veil that may be worn over a headscarf, it covers the entire face and is made of a sheer fabric so the wearer is able to see through it. It has been suggested that the practice of wearing a veil - uncommon among the Arab tribes prior to the rise of Islam - originated in the Byzantine Empire, and then spread among the Arabs.

Wedding veils

An occasion on which a Western, non-Muslim woman is likely to wear a veil is on her wedding day, if she follows the traditions of a white wedding. Brides used to wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolise their virginity, now the white diaphanous veil is often said to represent this.

Veils in Mormonism

Mormon women also wear a veil as part of ritual temple clothing. This veil, along with the entire temple ritual clothing, is only worn inside the temple and is rarely seen. The veil is only lowered to cover the face of the woman during one part of the temple ritual and then is returned (thrown back over the top of the head). However, Mormons who have completed the temple rituals will be typically buried in this clothing. During the viewing of the body, the veil remains lifted up and on top of the head of the deceased. Immediately prior to the closing and sealing of the casket, the veil is lowered over the face of the deceased.

Another type of veil in Mormonism is the veil of the temple, which is an actual cloth structure which is suspended from the ceiling. It often separates the temple congregation from the Celestial Room (most holy room of the temple). Toward the end of the main temple ceremony, the congregation will each pass through the veil curtain into the Celestial Room through an elaborate series of rituals.

Courtesans

Conversely, veils are often part of the stereotypical image of the courtesan and harem woman. Here, rather than the virginity of the bride's veil, modesty of the Muslim scarf or the piety of the nun's headdress, the mysterious veil hints at sensuality and the unknown. An example of the veil's erotic potential is the dance of the seven veils. Sexual interest in veiled women is veil fetishism.

In West Africa

Among the Tuareg of West Africa, women do not traditionally wear the veil, while men do. The men's facial covering originates from the belief that such action wards off evil spirits, but most probably relates to protection against the harsh desert sands as well; in any event, it is a firmly established tradition. Men begin wearing a veil at age 25 which conceals their entire face excluding their eyes. This veil is never removed, even in front of family members. [1], [2]


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[1], [2]. Wilton may also be:. This veil is never removed, even in front of family members. Wilton is the name of one place in Zimbabwe:. Men begin wearing a veil at age 25 which conceals their entire face excluding their eyes. Wilton is the name of a suburb of Wellington New Zealand. The men's facial covering originates from the belief that such action wards off evil spirits, but most probably relates to protection against the harsh desert sands as well; in any event, it is a firmly established tradition. Wilton is the name of several places in the United States:.

Among the Tuareg of West Africa, women do not traditionally wear the veil, while men do. Wilton is the name of one place in Scotland:. Sexual interest in veiled women is veil fetishism. Wilton is the name of several places in England:. An example of the veil's erotic potential is the dance of the seven veils. Penelope Wilton (1946 - ), a British actor. Here, rather than the virginity of the bride's veil, modesty of the Muslim scarf or the piety of the nun's headdress, the mysterious veil hints at sensuality and the unknown. Joseph Wilton (1722 – 1803), an English sculptor.

Conversely, veils are often part of the stereotypical image of the courtesan and harem woman. Earl of Wilton, a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Toward the end of the main temple ceremony, the congregation will each pass through the veil curtain into the Celestial Room through an elaborate series of rituals. Wilton culture, an archaeological culture from Africa. It often separates the temple congregation from the Celestial Room (most holy room of the temple). Wilton, a village in the Mashonaland East province. Another type of veil in Mormonism is the veil of the temple, which is an actual cloth structure which is suspended from the ceiling. Wilton, a township in the state of Minnesota.

Immediately prior to the closing and sealing of the casket, the veil is lowered over the face of the deceased. Wilton, a city in the state of Florida. During the viewing of the body, the veil remains lifted up and on top of the head of the deceased. Wilton, a town in the state of Wisconsin. However, Mormons who have completed the temple rituals will be typically buried in this clothing. Wilton, a village in the state of Wisconsin. The veil is only lowered to cover the face of the woman during one part of the temple ritual and then is returned (thrown back over the top of the head). Wilton, a city in the state of North Dakota.

This veil, along with the entire temple ritual clothing, is only worn inside the temple and is rarely seen. Wilton, a town in the state of New York. Mormon women also wear a veil as part of ritual temple clothing. Wilton, a town in the state of New Hampshire. Brides used to wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolise their virginity, now the white diaphanous veil is often said to represent this. Wilton, a town (CDP) in the state of New Hampshire. An occasion on which a Western, non-Muslim woman is likely to wear a veil is on her wedding day, if she follows the traditions of a white wedding. Wilton, a city in the state of Minnesota.

It has been suggested that the practice of wearing a veil - uncommon among the Arab tribes prior to the rise of Islam - originated in the Byzantine Empire, and then spread among the Arabs. Wilton, a town (CDP) in the state of Maine. The boushiya is a veil that may be worn over a headscarf, it covers the entire face and is made of a sheer fabric so the wearer is able to see through it. Wilton, a town in the state of Maine. The Afghan burqa covers the entire body, obscuring the face completely, except for a grille or netting over the eyes to allow the wearer to see. Wilton, a city in the state of Iowa. The niqab and burqa are two kinds of veils that cover most of the face except for a slit or hole for the eyes. Wilton, a town in the state of Connecticut.

Many of these garments cover the hair, ears and throat, but do not cover the face (for example the dupatta, khimar and buknuk). Wilton, a town in the state of California. A variety of headdresses worn by Muslim women in accordance with hijab (the principle of dressing modestly) are sometimes referred to as veils or headscarves. Wilton, a town in the state of Arkansas. In Eastern Orthodoxy, a veil called an epanokamelavkion is used by both nuns and monks, the former using it to cover their necks and shoulders as well as their heads. Wilton, a town in the state of Alabama. In Western Christianity, it does not wrap around the neck or face. Wilton, a place in the Scottish Borders.

The nun's veil covers the top of the head and flows down around and over the shoulders. Wilton Windmill, a windmill near Grafton in the county of Wiltshire. A similar veil forms part of a nun's headdress; this is why a woman who becomes a nun can be said "to take the veil". Wilton House, a stately home near Salisbury, Wiltshire. Mantillas are still worn by Spanish women during religious ceremonies. Wilton Abbey, a benedictine convent near Salisbury, Wiltshire. However, these veils are generally made of netting or another material not actually designed to hide the face from view, even if the veil can be pulled down, which is not always the case. Wilton, a hamlet within Grafton parish in the county of Wiltshire.

Veils pinned to hats have survived the changing fashions of the centuries and are still common today on occasions when women wear hats. Wilton, a town near Salisbury in the county of Wiltshire. More pragmatically, veils were also sometimes worn to protect the complexion from sun and wind damage (when un-tanned skin was fashionable), or to keep dust out of a woman's face. Wilton, a place in the county of Redcar and Cleveland. They would also have been used, as an alternative to a mask, as a simple method of hiding the identity of a woman who was traveling to meet a lover, or doing anything she didn't want other people to find out about. Wilton, a place in the county of North Yorkshire. Sometimes a veil of this type was draped over and pinned to the bonnet or hat of a woman in mourning, especially at the funeral and during the period of "high mourning". Wilton, a place in the county of Cumbria.

For centuries, women have worn sheer veils, but only under certain circumstances. It was not until the Tudor period (1485), when hoods became increasingly popular, that veils of this type became less common. For many centuries (until around 1175) Anglo-Saxon and then Anglo-Norman women, with the exception of young unmarried girls, wore veils that entirely covered their hair, and often their necks up to their chins. .

Veils are articles of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, which cover some part of the head or face.