Fez (clothing) facts for kids
The fez (also called a tarboosh) is a special type of felt hat. It's usually red and shaped like a cone with a flat top, or sometimes a short cylinder. Most fezzes have a cool tassel hanging from the top!
This hat became very popular during the time of the Ottoman Empire, which was a large and powerful empire that existed for many centuries.
What is a Fez?
A fez is a hat made from felt, which is a soft fabric created by pressing wool or other fibers together. There are two main shapes for a fez:
- One shape is like a cone that has a flat top. This type is usually made from red felt.
- The other shape is a short cylinder, often made from a type of woven fabric called kilim.
Both styles of fez usually have a decorative tassel attached to the very top. The fez and its similar hat, the tarboosh, became widely known and worn thanks to the Ottoman Empire.
History of the Fez
The fez has a long history, especially in the Ottoman Empire. During the 19th century, the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II made some big changes to the way people dressed. He wanted to modernize the army and government, and part of this was introducing new uniforms. The fez became a key part of these new uniforms.
Many people in the Ottoman Empire, including soldiers and government officials, started wearing the fez. It became a symbol of modern Ottoman identity. Even after the Ottoman Empire ended, the fez continued to be worn in many countries, especially in North Africa and the Middle East.
Who Wears the Fez Today?
While the fez is not as commonly worn every day as it once was, it is still seen in many places.
- In some countries, like Morocco, the fez is still a part of traditional clothing. You might see important people, like the King of Morocco, wearing a fez for special events.
- Some military units, like the Evzones in Greece, wear a version of the fez as part of their traditional uniform.
- The fez is also worn by some religious or cultural groups around the world as a symbol of their heritage.
- In Indonesia, a similar cap called a peci is worn, often by presidents and other leaders.
The fez is more than just a hat; it's a piece of history and culture that connects people to the past.
Images for kids
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A fez
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Portrait of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II after his clothing reforms
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Ottoman soldiers wearing Fezzes during the Greco-Turkish War (1897)
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King Mohammed VI of Morocco meets John Kerry and Dwight Bush while wearing a fez hat
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David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi as law students in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, wearing fezzes, c. 1914
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Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood wearing a fez hat.
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Ottoman Soldier during the Battle of Domokos by Fausto Zonaro.
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Otto of Greece in an Evzones uniform.
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Serbian voivode Stevan Knićanin, 1849
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French Zouave during the Crimean War (1853–1856).
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Bosniak Soldiers of the 13th Mountain Division wearing fezzes (1943).
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Mahmood Ali, Indian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana state wearing a fez
See also
In Spanish: Fez (sombrero) para niños
