Beret

A beret ( in Switzerland also Béret [ beʁɛ ] ) is a flat, round or square head covering of wool knitting, fabric, velvet or silk lined without shade or brim. During the period of its creation in the 15th century, was the word from the Middle Latin barretum / borrowed birretum. Originally, the beret was a sign of the educated classes.

History

The word barretum / birretum has its origin in the Latin birrus " short cape with hood ". It is believed that the origin of the word birrus located in Celtic. In Irish, the word bai is to read received.

The beret has been known since the 15th century in European fashion and was originally worn as a sign of the educated classes. About the needle beret became a popular fashion item in Europe bourgeoisie and peasantry. With the advent of new hat forms in the course of the 16th century, especially in the then style- Spain, the beret was displaced to 1600 slowly out of fashion. The also emerging in the late 15th century mercenaries beret among other hat shapes and helmets was a very popular military headdress. Form and execution were bound to no rules and were based only on the taste of the wearer.

As a beret jewelery often served embroidery, clasps, strings of pearls (only the nobility ) or springs ( approximately at the mercenaries ). The connection cap and gown corresponds to the academic robes of office, and is now mostly worn in Anglo-American countries at graduation ceremonies, but recently again in Germany.

After its end as a fashion piece is held the beret as headgear rural populations. Very aware of the beret was in the form of the Basque cap, which is part of the costume of the Shepherd in the mountainous Pyrenees.

In Germany, the beret learned in the liberal -minded middle class with the wars of liberation as a politically motivated piece of clothing a short rebirth. It belonged to the so-called old German costume, which was very loosely modeled on the time of Martin Luther. These dresses fashion was after the Congress of Vienna in the resurgent German princes and kings as so provocative and inflammatory, that it was partially prohibited. As part of this costume beret to this day in some fraternities part of the batch clothing.

Beret of a nobleman of the 16th century ( Christopher Hatton )

Martin Luther in the robes of a theology professor, 1529

Student in Paris, 1578 ( Francis )

Basque cap, late 19th / early 20th century ( Auguste Rodin )

Berets are found today:

• In the military and, by extension, in some cases also the police, customs, THW and firefighters; see beret ( uniform)
• The churches as part of the official costume ( then biretta ); see beret (church)
• In migratory birds ( since the 1920s ) and scouts ( since the 1960s )
• Among academics, if robe is worn; see Mortar
• The judges of the Federal Court, the Federal Constitutional Court and the other top federal courts in Germany and in judges and prosecutors in Austria

Beret of a soldier of the German Bundeswehr

Mortar Board, University of Cambridge