Lentorama 2013: There's a Name for That
Day 23: biretta
Another theme week, this time it's all about headgear. Today's topper is a square hat with three or four peaks or horns, often topped with a pom-pom. The color and ornamentation of the biretta changes based on position - cardinals wear a scarlet one with no pom-pom, bishops get one that's amaranth in color but with a purple pom-pom, while lower ranks typically wear black (and may or may not have a pom-pom, and that of a particular color, based on specific titles or positions).
The biretta apparently derives from academic headgear of the middle ages, and is still the appropriate hat for someone earning a doctorate from a pontifical university, in which case the color varies based on the subject of the degree. If nothing else, it's more interesting looking than a mortarboard.
11 March 2013
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes Day 40: Urban VII We've saved the best (or least) for last, as Urban VII holds the record for shorte...
-
As you may have heard, there's a new question facing all of us in Red Sox Nation. Now what? It's a valid question. Citizensh...
-
And finally, U!P!N! THE NEW UPN created a new Thursday night of comedies, and seems very proud of being the only network with a full two hou...
-
Lentorama 2010: Two Millennia of Pointy Hats Day 38: Gregory XVI (1831-46) Gregrory, a Benedictine monk, gained early notice for his phi...
No comments:
Post a Comment