Week 32 Year 1 - Monday, May the 28th 2012
A powerful knot
The history of neckwear goes back a very long way. It has been documented intermittently along the centuries. The first reported neckwear is traced as far back as 300 BC. Chinese warriors used to wear a piece of fabric around their neck. But, at some point in time, for some reason, they abandoned neckwear all together and it will never be seen again in the history of China. Roman soldiers on the contrary were not allowed to wear anything around their neck, whereas non roman soldiers often did. Remember the very famous Obelix and Asterix? They wore absolutely nothing in fact, but the Gauls used to wear a piece of fabric, similar to a cape, hanging from around their neck. These guys fought fiercely against the Romans to maintain their independence. They were always depicted as extremely courageous, strong and free spirits. Then the Croatian mercenaries, who joined the French army, in the 30 Years War. They too wore a kind of fabric around the neck, but much more similar to a necktie as we know it, than the Gaulish piece of clothing.
The Croatians used to call their neckwear, "hrvat", later adapted to the French word “cravate” (necktie). When they joined the French army (1618–1648), no one in Europe had ever worn anything alike. Again, neckwear is worn in the course of history, by another very strong figure. Mercenaries usually elude every regulation and at times even coherence as they may change sides at anytime. I do not want to compare them to the Gauls for the motivations are worlds apart, but I’d like to pause and reflect on the essence these characters appear to have in common. Courage, strength and freedom of mind, in fact, rebels. It appears that the French King, Louis XIV, fell for that "hrvat," and introduced it into his own dress code, starting a new fashion craze which gave birth to a continuum in the history of neckties. The reason why I paused on the characters earlier on, is because I believe that the King was not really enamored of a piece of fabric, probably quite dirty too, but rather, of the impact the mercenaries’ image had on him. Which brings me on a completely different level now, please forgive this diversion. I am bewildered by the fact that usually, what is seen as scruffy (ripped jeans, old t-shirts) or conducible to a negative connotation when applied to common people, automatically becomes “cool”, “vintage” and “fashionable” when worn by the rich and famous. This is indeed a crazy world.
Not that I have a particular interest for neckties at all. They got my attention recently as I couldn’t help but notice that, out of a significant event, the 38th G8 Summit, what immediately made the headlines, before anything else, is that the most powerful leaders in the world decided not to wear a necktie for the occasion. This in a way brings me back to what I was saying above. The necktie is not only fashion or a dress code. Forget the variety of knots, colors, motives. Behind a necktie lies a very powerful statement. Which could explain why, the newly elected French President Hollande, is the only one who showed up with a necktie. The first thing he arranged to do after he was elected, is to meet up with Angela Merkel. Not only did he have the burden to renegotiate important issues with the lady, but the plane that was taking him to the meeting was hit by a lightning. I don’t know but, I have a feeling that after such a debut, the guy must have felt kind of naked without his necktie? No. maybe not, silly me! Sub.
Note 1 - about SUB ref. Monday, December the 5th 2011 "About a Druid and his mushrooms"
