Babushka

Accessoires

Russian grandmothers
In many parts of Russia and the Balkans, headscarves are primarily worn by ever-present grandmothers. Fittingly, they are often referred to as babushkas – a Slavic word for ‘grandmother’, derived from baba, meaning ‘old woman’. These triangular scarves, tied under the chin, are typically adorned with vibrant floral patterns. Women wear them to shield their ears from the cold and biting wind, but also out of tradition: married women were expected to cover their hair. Since Soviet times, younger generations have largely abandoned the practice. As a result, today’s grandmothers are likely the last generation to wear the traditional headscarf – just as their mothers and grandmothers did before the revolution.

Image: © À la Russe

 

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