Neckerchief
A neckerchief (from neck (n.) +
Neckerchiefs worn by sailors are shaped like a square, and are folded in half diagonally before rolling, with rolling occurring from the tip of the resulting triangle to its hypotenuse. Either neckerchief is then placed on the wearer's back, under or over the shirt collar with the ends at the front of the wearer. The rolled ends then pass around the neck until they meet in front of it, where they are secured together, either with a knot, such as a reef knot or a slip knot, or with a rubber band or other fastener (called a woggle or neckerchief slide) and allowed to hang. A slip knot (vs. a simple reef or square knot) will give way if the neckerchief gets caught and is thus less likely to choke the wearer.
Sailors in the United States Navy have worn a rolled black neckerchief since the American Civil War.[2] It is currently part of the men's service dress uniform for junior enlisted sailors as well as the women's summer dress uniform.[3]
Scouting
The Scouting movement makes the neckerchief part of its uniform. A generally ceremonial item, the neckerchief is taught to be a practical wilderness item in the Scouting tradition. The neckerchief, unrolled, is designed to be the perfect size for use as a triangular bandage for first aid.
The origin of the Scouting neckerchief seems to be in
Each Scout group would have a neckerchief of different design and colours. In most countries each Scout Troop uses its own colour neckerchief. The colours are usually the "Troop Colours" which may have a particular historical significance to the troop or to the local community.
At Scouting camps and jamborees these neckerchiefs represent units, subcamps or the camp as a whole. Fun scarves are also used as memorabilia at Scout events and country scarves are often traded at international gatherings
In Canada, while most groups use colour neckerchiefs, there is also an optional alternate universal pattern tartan neckerchief: white plaid on red for Scouts, gold plaid on dark green for Cubs. Alternating thick and thin lines of the plaid spell out "CANADA" in Morse code.[citation needed]
In Australia, Queensland uses a single maroon necker for the whole state, while the other states allow groups, Venturer Units and Rover Crews to choose their own necker. Region and Branch Teams also have their own neckers.[citation needed]
In Hungary, as well as the Hungarian diaspora communities in countries such as the US, the necktie color is national rather than distinctive for each troop, being light blue for ages 10 and younger and grass green for ages 11 and up.[citation needed]
In other countries individual patrols are identifiable by their neckerchiefs and so troops may have many different neckerchiefs all at once. In both of these cases the neckerchief and its colours are an issue of identity, and become emblematic of a troop or a patrol.
Neckerchiefs can also have important ceremonial functions in Scouting, for example, the 1st Gilwell Scout Group present a special neckerchief on completion of the Wood Badge.
Some Traditional Scouting Associations use a square neckerchief folded over, as Scouts originally wore.[7]
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Baden-Powell's sketch of Burnham in 1896, wearing a neckerchief
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Four Scout scarves (clockwise from top) the 21st World Scout Jamboree scarf, a Gang Show scarf from Cumberland Gang Show, the troop and group scarf from 1st Cherrybrook Scout Group, and the national scarf for Australia
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Gilwell Wood Badge neckerchief and beads
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A double-colour neckerchief on use in Turkey
Political youth movements
In
In many Communist states, members of the Pioneer movement wore a red neckerchief which was sometimes worn without the rest of the uniform.[10] This continues at present in China and Vietnam.[11]
See also
- Ascot
- Bandanna
- Cravat
- Fichu
- Friendship knot
- Kerchief
- Neal Manufacturing Company
- Red scarf
- Scarf
- Scout Scarf Day
References
- ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary: Neckerchief". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ "History of US Navy Uniforms [1776 – 1981]: 4. A Major Influence on Uniforms; The Civil War".
- ^ "Description and Wear of Uniform – Components – Neckerchief". Navy Personnel Command.
- ISBN 0-09-170670-Xp.188
- ^ "Scouting for Boys (Campfire Yarn No 2)" (PDF).
- ^ "Scout Association Factsheet: The Origins of the Woggle" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ^ "Uniforms". bpsa-us.org. Baden-Powell Service Association. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3935-5.
- ISBN 1859738044.
- ISBN 9780842205290.
- ISBN 9780516248677.
External links
- Media related to Neckerchiefs at Wikimedia Commons
- The dictionary definition of neckerchief at Wiktionary
- Build / Make your own official Scout Neckerchief online Scout Neckerchiefs