Ushanka has been popular through the ages up to the Soviet Union period when it continued to be the token of prestige and particular social status depending on what fur type it was made of. The artifact of the fading out Soviet epoch All military services have ushankas of symbolic colors on, steel shade for land forces and night-sky blue belongs to air fleet. The traditional color has been passed on to the present day Russian Navy uniform hat. The only possible color on the steam boats with coal dust floating in the air at that time was black. The Navy men were the first military branch to put them on. Those hats were also woolen and for the reason of inadequate warmth quality were replaced with much heavier winter ushankasin the 30s.
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It was sharp pointed on top since it was styled after the old Russian helmets that were so familiar to every Russian due to the heroic epic ballads and folk tales. The latter was called budyonovka after the Red Army cavalry commander Semyon Budyonny. The first one was called kolchakovka after the Imperial Russian admiral, military leader and polar explorer Alexander Kolchak.
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Later in 1919 at times of the Communist Revolution and the Civil War ushanka proved itself as a military uniform item both in the White (pro-monarchy) as well as the Red (pro-communist) Armies. The women's hats were ornamented with pearls on the back side that covered their hair. Russian countrymen of the 16th century considered it to be a sign of wealth. No matter whether it came from the north or from the south, but this ear-flap hat became popular among Russian peasantry. The fishermen used them as warm scarves while sailing to the icy waters of the White Sea. The Pomors, who are Russian coast-dwellers on the Arctic Ocean areas, also wore this functional hat type with long ’ears’. Mongolian tribes had ruled over the Eastern Slavs for about 400 years starting in 14th century so it is not a surprise to find the influence of Mongolian culture in various aspects of Russian life. Malakhai hat had ’ears’ that were designed to protect its owner from severe winds while worn down and could also be tied up at the back when the weather was warm. One of them states that a Mongolian helmet-like hat called ’ malakhai’ could have been a prototype for a Russian ushanka. There are several theories about possible sources. The word itself derives from the word ’ ushi’ that stands for ’ ears’ in Russian.
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The birth of it is the result of the climate necessities and at times literal survival in extreme low temperatures. It is surely more than a stereotypical souvenir foreign tourists often bring home from their travels.
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They say: ’It's not that we never get cold, the matter is that we know how to dress well so we don't get cold’Ī legendary Russian fur hat called ’ ushanka’ is a valid proof of the fact that the Russians have learnt the art of winter wise-dressing. The secret is in saying that we have heard from the Siberians who are trustworthy winter experts among the Russians. You may think of the Russians as some special sort of humans who are immune to the cold but it is not exactly true. At least twice in the history of the country the enemies had to march-back off Moscow primarily because of the severe unbearable weather conditions. Indeed, it is the land well known for extremely low temperatures and at times it can even be an advantage. The Russians do not dream of a white Christmas, they have it and cannot picture it without snow and freezing air. Russia is the land of the cold and the winter.