The Origins Of Mennonite Head Coverings
Mennonites were not the first ones to use head coverings, and there are many cultures around the world that still use them today. These cultures were way ahead of Mennonite Head Coverings, which have only existed as long as the Anabaptist movement itself, which is about 500 years old give or take. The Catholics wore head coverings during prayer and worship in the church, but when the Anabaptist broke away, they mandated that married women wear head coverings at all times. This was due to the fact that scripture says believers, should “pray in the spirit at all times”.
As time has gone on, many cultures and religions have continued to observe the head covering rule, and some have adopted hats in churches as their way of doing this. Head coverings and different interpretations of them are widespread. The cultural significance of a head covering is still very relevant to many cultures today and indicates that a woman is under the authority of a man, which is usually her husband. Unless you look at the Muslim and Islamic religions, where the rules of head coverings are quite different. In certain countries, women can be murdered still in this day and age, for not wearing a head covering. As was proven by the recent death of Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini.
Where Did Head Coverings Originally Start
In the book of numbers, what some call Mosaic law, it talks about the head coverings for Jewish women.
The Jewish Head Covering
According to halacha (Jewish law), married Jewish women are expected to cover their hair when in the presence of men other than their husband or close family members. Such covering is common practice nowadays among Orthodox Jewish women.
Different kinds of head coverings are used, among them the mitpaḥat or tichel (headscarf), shpitzel, snood, hat, beret, and sheitel (wig). The most common head coverings in the Haredi community are headscarves in the form of the tichel and snood, though some wear hats, berets or sheitels; the tichel and snood remain the historic and universally accepted rabbinical standard for observant Jewish women. The headscarves can be tied in a number of ways, depending on how casually the wearer is dressed.
Covering the hair is part of the modesty-related dress standard called tzniut.
Cahn-Lipman, David E. (1991). The Book of Jewish Knowledge: 613 Basic Facts about Judaism.
The Origins of the Veil in Ancient Assyria
The earliest source we have that refers to the wearing of the veil is a Middle Assyrian law code that dates back to somewhere between 1400-1100 BC. These laws went into strict detail as to who was allowed to wear the veil and who could not.
The laws depended on a woman’s social class, rank, and occupation. Slaves and prostitutes, for example, were banned from wearing any kind of veil and faced stiff punishments if they did. Any prostitute found to be wearing a veil faced fifty blows from a rod and would then have hot pitch poured over her head.
Any man who failed to report a woman without a veil faced fifty blows from the rod and would be enslaved for one month. Female slaves had it even worse. Any enslaved woman found wearing a veil was dragged to the palace entrance, and would then have her ears cut off.
In Assyria, the wearing of the veil was not just a sign of social class, but was used to differentiate between women who were deemed respectable and those who were seen as ‘available’. To wear a veil when you did not meet the requirements was to spit in the face of the social hierarchy.
ROBBIE MITCHELL
What Does Paul Say Regarding Head Coverings
He addresses the church first by telling them he is pleased that they have held some “traditions” (or ordinance, both Greek: paradosis), and this word is key. Because now we know that the issue of head coverings, is one of tradition. Not of doctrine. But, it was still such an important issue for the Church, that Paul makes sure to dedicate a large space in his letter to it.
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
– ESV
This was a tradition that had meaning to the church it self, but mostly outside the Church walls, as it was in fact the romans that implemented that married women should wear a head covering. The Empress herself never appeared in public without a veil. It would have been incredibly inappropriate for the members of the Church to display this kind of disregard and complete abandon to the cultural understanding of what the head covering meant to the entire society at that time. How ever, to make the head covering out to be a “Church practice”, or a biblical command, would be wrong. Paul himself addresses that at the end of 1 Corinthians chapter 11. He says that the “churches of God have no *such practice/custom”(some say “*other”; Greek toioutos), regarding the practice of head coverings. Meaning that there was great significance in what the head covering meant as a tradition that symbolized authority, but the Church itself did not command the wearing of a head covering.
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
– ESV
Paul addresses the issue of a head covering for women, as well as for the men in the church. He says that a man who prays and prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. For many like myself, there is a question about why this had to be mentioned. But if we had lived during that time, what you might have seen, was pagan men worshipping their idols, with their togas pulled over their heads. Now since we know that the church in Corinth was made up of many Jews and Gentiles, Gentiles who had formerly worshipped idols, this starts to make more sense. The need for Paul to address this issue suggests that some men may have been continuing the worship practice, of covering their heads with togas, in the Church. Paul is displeased with this and says that it is dishonoring for a man, to pray and prophesy this way.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife[c] who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
– ESV
Should All Christian Women wear head coverings today?
Let’s examine this. Paul firstly addresses the issue of the head covering, as an issue of ‘tradition’, so let us do the same. This is in fact not an issue of doctrine or salvation, and Paul gave no indication that it should be. Growing up I was taught that the head covering was a must and to not wear one was a sin. This has confused many I believe because the history and culture of the times were not considered, or it’s just the fact that many are not educated on these things.
Paul addressed the Corinthian church about the women who were publicly taking their head coverings off in church, while praying and prophesying. This was considered as an expression of great contempt for their marriages. The Roman rule was for all wed women to wear head coverings or veil, this was not just a tradition that the Jews alone had. In the Roman Empire, clothing was heavily regulated, and what you wore had huge implications. The head covering was essentially a status symbol that showed you were married, you belonged to someone and were not sexually available. Paul says for these women to publicly not wear one while they were praying and worshipping in the church, was the equivalent of them having their heads shaven.
What I had been taught was that prostitutes in that age wore their heads shaved, which is not actually correct. Historians and theologians have examined depictions of these temple prostitutes, which are always depicted with long locks of hair. What we do know biblically, is that the punishment for adultery was to have your head shaven, and one can only imagine how shameful that would have been. You could not hide your sin from the public eye, in fact it would be evident to anyone who passed you by, for years to come. It would have been dishonoring to your husband and incredibly shameful for him as well. Paul equates having your head shaven, with not wearing a head covering. So just because the church itself didn’t implement the rule, did not change the significance behind what the head covering represented, especially for the culture during that time.
Should We Throw Away The Meaning Behind The Head Covering?
This is a definite no. There are many society’s and cultures where the head covering has to this day just as much meaning as it did in Corinth. Many countries legally won’t allow the women to be in public without one, I don’t think that those traditions should be disrespected and disregarded. If you are a part of a Church or Culture that values the head covering, you ought to wear one yourself.
But a common scenario I have been coming across lately is people self imposing the head covering rule, or imposing it on their friends and family members. When there is not significant reason to do so, in a society that has adopted wedding bands. Many refuse to wear a ring because of a legalistic view of scripture. They often site personal conviction or even make it a biblical rule for a women, and some would even make it an issue of doctrine, when it is NEVER mentioned as such. Now, I don’t think anyone is wrong for wearing one, however, I would urge caution in spreading false ideologies about the head covering. Especially if you haven’t properly studied the scriptures and don’t fully understand it.
I grew up thinking I would for sure wear a Mennonite head covering some day, but as I have grown and studied the scriptures and considering the church and society I am a part of, I don’t see the relevance of wearing one in the midst of societies and cultures, that do not understand it to be a symbol of authority. For many it is simply an issue of legalistic thinking.
I’ll tell you a quick story about this. I have a family member who for years still wore her head covering, even though her church did not command it, and neither did our surrounding culture. She was shopping one day in a Mall, and a man approached her, not seeing a ring, and vocalized his romantic interest in her, much to her surprise. The response was of course, “Hey, no I’m married!” Well, he didn’t know because he didn’t see a wedding band on her finger.
I feel naked without my ring because I know, if I’m in public without it, it shows availability to other men. Our society, where most of us are living today, does not recognize what the head covering represents, the equivalent is now a wedding ring. And it has a huge significance. It is a current cultural tradition, just as the head covering was and is a cultural tradition. Paul addressed it as a tradition, not imposed by the church, and I do the same.
Should I Still Wear My Head Covering, Even If It’s Not A Command From Christ
I think it is absolutely okay to wear a head covering, if it makes you feel comfortable, or if you’re simply honoring the tradition you grew up knowing. My grandmother wears hers everyday, and I would never in my life expect her to now take it off. Especially since she does actually live in a Mennonite community where a head covering has all the meaning it did in Corinth. There are of course churches even within that community, that no longer command it, but it is not a very popular choice for women to lay aside their head coverings.
In my opinion if you are a part of a church or within a culture that commands it, either leave or conform to their rules. There is no reason to create discord over a tradition that will neither save you, nor damn you.
