|
Long before the recent civilization came into existence, the Native American Indian ancestors have already implicitly expressed their creative prowess to mankind through their ornaments and apparels. However, their creativity does not only entail connected beads and hair tails. Native Americans are symbolic in nature, thus, beauty only becomes a secondary concern. Although we cannot deny that most of their Native American clothing and Indian Headdress are beyond beauty, there is actually more than meets the eye. Let’s check out the four of the most prominent types of Indian headdresses that have left thousands of people at awe and sheer amazement as they soar high into the fashion world up to this day. Feathered Headdress This is the most common headdress ever made in American Indian history and is probably the most eye-catching head ornament one can wear. Imagine how many birds had to give up flying just so you can wear that mind-blowing fully stuffed headdress! Eagle is considered as the most sacred bird by the natives so plucking its feathers out and transposing them to a single head covering is considered very spiritual for them. Most of the time, this type of headdress serves as a reward for conquered battles and special deeds done by a warrior for his tribe. Horned Headdresses When we speak of chief headdresses, the first thing that might ever come to mind is a hair covering composed of feathers and tails. As a matter of fact, there are actually headdresses that do not even contain feathers at all. These are what we call the horned headdresses—less famous but more significant in the American Indian perspective. According to historians, only a few of the highest ranked officials for every tribe are given the rare privilege to own one. As a proof, experts have only collected a scarce amount of horned headdresses compared to the feathered ones, and the old images retrieved by hobbyists only have shown those that were worn by great tribal leaders. The laying backbone for a horned headdress is the buffalo hide skullcap, attached to a tail hanging down from the back and is divided into two lengths—one relatively shorter than the other. Roach Cap This was significantly used in the Northern Plains where an otter fur surrounds the head like a crown. Depending on the preference of the warrior, he may add an eagle feather to stick up through the cap. This type of headdress shows the warrior’s accomplishments carefully illustrated in the design of his headdress. Animal’s Skin Headdress Animals are considered sacred by the natives. Therefore, it is a great honor for them to make use of a sacred animal’s natural bearing for their ceremonial or occasional gatherings. For example, the head and back covering of a native is made up of a buffalo’s brow. Another example would be that of a wolf which is known for its great hunting skills. Having said that, a wolf’s skin fits perfectly for scouts performing lookouts. A headdress is not just a headdress. There is more to it than its looks and figures. So the next time you choose a headdress to be your sort of fashion statement or for serving its purpose on any cultural occasion, make sure you know the kind that would complement your style.
Related Articles -
Indian Headdress, Native American Headdress,
| 
