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Labbadeh

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Lebanese farmer wearing a labbadeh with a black scarf as he goes to work, 1925

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 men in Lebanon.

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 Christians 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

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The word labbadeh comes from the Lebanese Arabic 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

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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]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Daher, Antoine (27 October 2017). "القبّعات على أنواعها: اللبّادة -جزء 3". ellearabia.com. elle arabia. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Origin of Levantine Costumes". Almashriq. Hiof. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Small Phoenician statues dug up in Lebanon show this same style of conical cap, while bas reliefs from the Aleppo citadel also depict men wearing a cap of the same proportions as the labbade worn today.
  3. ^ "Origin of Levantine Costumes". Almashriq. Hiof. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010.
  4. ^ "The last hatmaker of Hrajel who's preserving a Phoenician craft in the Lebanese mountains". kawa-news. KAWA News. 3 March 2023.
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"تعرفوا الى ابن حراجل يوسف عقيقي صانع اللبادة رمز الرجولة!". youtube.com. Future TV. 20 Feb 2016.

"يوم جديد: نوستالجيا .. اللبادة اللبنانية". youtube.com. Alghad TV. 2 April 2016.