TUNIC

Wild Word Friday!

Since most of us give and receive clothing as Christmas gifts, I thought you might enjoy a Wild Word post about the TUNIC.

The classic Middle Eastern TUNIC was made from plant fiber, specifically linen, and it was adopted by Europeans about 6000 years ago, shortly after the people of Eastern Europe had learned to spin and weave wool. I know that seems to be a contradiction. Why wear linen when wool is warmer and takes to dyes more easily? Well . . . wool is itchy. Thus for Europeans the TUNIC was used as an undergarment.

The English word TUNIC comes from the Latin, tunica,which in turn was borrowed from a Semitic (Middle Eastern) language. (Nobody’s quite sure which one.)

I always thought the TUNIC was another name for a toga, but I’ve learned that the toga was a sheet of fabric knotted or pinned and draped over the body. The TUNIC was a more fitted undergarment that extended from the shoulders to the hips, knees or ankles. They were seamed, and some had long sleeves, like this Germanic TUNIC from the 4th Century B.C.

Does your holiday shopping include clothing? Or are you a toys-only kind of person?

Blessings!

Sue

(Information in this post drawn from Women’s Work, by Elizabeth Wayland Barber.)

(Photograph from Wikipedia.)