The Labbadeh (Arabic: اللبادة, lit. '"beaten" referring to the felting process in which it is made'),[1] also spelled as Lebbadeh, Lubbaddah, Labbade or Labbada is a conical brimless felt cap traditionally worn by Lebanese men.
It is made from sheep's wool and is usually combined with a black scarf during work and with a white silk scarf for celebratory, leisure and formal events.[1]
The origin of the labbadeh goes back to ancient times, depictions of it were found in Byblos, Kamid al-Lawz, Aleppo and Tel Michal.[2]
The fashion persisted into medieval times among the Maronites of Northern Mount Lebanon,[3] where it was especially useful for its natural water-resistance against rain and providing warmth during the cold winters of the mountain. The labbadeh survived into the modern era still being used by some villagers as well as becoming a national symbol of Lebanon as a part of the traditional folk costume of the country.[4]
Etymology
The word labbadeh comes from the Lebanese word libada which translates to "beat" or "beaten" and is a reference to the beating of wool in the process of making a labbade.[1]
Process
The making of the labbadeh is a hand-made felting process. First, the wool threads must be finely separated from one another before being saturated with soap and water. Then, the wool threads are mixed together again and beaten until they solidify into a labbade. The finished product is then soaked with water and put out to dry.[1]
Gallery
Byblos figurines showing some of the oldest depictions of the labbadeh
Temple of Hadad within the Citadel of Aleppo with an engraving of two men wearing ornate forms of the labbadeh
Statuette of a deity wearing a labbadeh, found in Tel Michal
Evolution of the labbadeh throughout time
Two Lebanese village boys watching the sunrise. The boy sitting is wearing a labbadeh while the boy standing has on a tarboosh, c. 1920s
Peasant from Btalloun wearing typical mountain headdress. Oil on canvas by Khalil Saleeby, 1926
The Oil Seller. Oil on canvas by Moustafa Farroukh, 1934
A Peasant from the Bekaa. Watercolor paint by Moustafa Farroukh, 1937
Portrait of a Lebanese villager. Oil on plywood by Moustafa Farroukh, 1939
Portrait of a muleteer. Oil on canvas by Moustafa Farroukh, 1946
Conversation by Saliba Douaihy
Uncommon example of a woman wearing a labbadeh, 1873
Brazilian football star Pelé wearing a labbadeh during a visit to Lebanon, 1975
Phoenician traders on the coast of Britain by Frederic Leighton
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See also
- Qeleshe, similar headdress of Albanian origin
- Pileus
- Baalbeck International Festival
- Tantour, traditional Lebanese women's headdress
References
External links
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