![N°3 HAÏK alt version](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/N%C2%B03_HA%C3%8FK_alt_version.jpg)
The haik (Arabic: الحايك) is a female garment worn in
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
particularly in central Algeria, it is the equivalent of mlaya in eastern Algeria and ksaa in western Algeria, and
sefsari in
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
. It consists of a rectangular fabric covering the whole body, in length, rolled up then held at the waist by a belt and then brought back to the shoulders to be fixed by
fibula
The fibula or calf bone is a leg bone on the lateral side of the tibia, to which it is connected above and below. It is the smaller of the two bones and, in proportion to its length, the most slender of all the long bones. Its upper extremity is ...
e. It can be white or black, though is usually white
Etymology
The word is borrowed from the
Maghrebi Arabic
Maghrebi Arabic (, Western Arabic; as opposed to Eastern or Mashriqi Arabic) is a vernacular Arabic dialect continuum spoken in the Maghreb region, in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Western Sahara, and Mauritania. It includes Moroccan, Alger ...
word , which comes from the Arabic verb which means "to weave". First used in
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
in the form (1654), it underwent many variations (1667), (1670), (1670), (1683), (1686). The word in French was at first of the feminine
gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures u ...
(1725) and became masculine in 1830.
Origins
Made from wool, silk or synthetic silk fabric, the haik succeeded, in a very short time, to spread through many regions of the country, but its wearing was adapted to the socio-cultural specificities of the region of adoption. Among this panoply, a type of veil knew a great success, with the women, considering its style of conception, the way of carrying it, as well as the quality of the fabric used by the craftsmen. It is the haïk m'rama, which appeared at the end of the nineteenth century and was worn by urban women of
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
and its suburbs. This type of veil is often associated with female beauty and has inspired many poets and
chaâbi
Chaabi ( in Arabic), also known as Chaâbi, Sha-bii, or Sha'bii meaning "folk", refers to different music genres in North Africa and the Middle East such as Algerian chaabi, Moroccan chaabi and Egyptian Shaabi.
Chaabi music just means 'music ...
singers, who dedicated many of their works.
The haik is of Arab-Andalusian origin, and present throughout the Maghreb.
As for the color, it is of an immaculate white in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
,
Tlemcen
Tlemcen (; ar, تلمسان, translit=Tilimsān) is the second-largest city in northwestern Algeria after Oran, and capital of the Tlemcen Province. The city has developed leather, carpet, and textile industries, which it exports through the por ...
,
Béjaïa and
Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
, whereas in
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
* Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given na ...
, it is black, and that in sign of mourning of the
Salah Bey, Bey of
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
* Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given na ...
.
Tunisian woman also wear a similar version known as
sefsari.
A variation on the haik called the
huik
''The Blue Cloak'', or ''De Blauwe Huik'', refers to an old concept for a popular 16th-century print series featuring Flemish proverbs. The prints were generally captioned according to each depicted proverb, and central to these was a woman pulli ...
was worn from the 14th until the late 19th century in the Netherlands and Belgium, usually black and made of wool or silk. It was worn by women as a protection against bad weather. Later variants were worn during a period of mourning.
Present-day use
*In
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
, the haik tends to be abandoned, expect for old women that tend to keep it. However, algerian breads wearing in the mariage and special events.
*In
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
, the use of haik has all but disappeared, except in the cities of
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen ( ar, شفشاون, Shafshāwan, ), also known as Chaouen (), is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue, for which it is nicknamed the "Blu ...
,
Essaouira
Essaouira ( ; ar, الصويرة, aṣ-Ṣawīra; shi, ⵜⴰⵚⵚⵓⵔⵜ, Taṣṣort, formerly ''Amegdul''), known until the 1960s as Mogador, is a port city in the western Moroccan region of Marakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast. It ha ...
and
Figuig, and rare appearances by old women in Oujda.
The color of the haik is black or blue in the cities of
Taroudant and
Tiznit.
*In
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
, the ''sefseri'', a Tunisian variant of haik made of a single piece of cloth that does not cover the face, has been virtually abandoned. However it is still sometimes traditionally worn,
especially by older women.
Gallery
File:Femme on haik 2.jpg, Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, Algeria.
File:The Old Women and the Sea.jpg, Algerian woman fishing with her haik.
File:Hayek Mascara region (1).jpg, Mascara
Mascara is a cosmetic commonly used to enhance the upper and lower eyelashes. It is used to darken, thicken, lengthen, and/or define the eyelashes. Normally in one of three forms—liquid, powder, or cream—the modern mascara product has vario ...
, Algeria.
File:Hayek Oranais (1).jpg, Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
, Algeria.
File:Haiek.jpg, Algerian women wearing Haik.
File:Womens at work.jpg, Algerian women fishing in 60s.
See also
*
Battoulah
*
Veil#Islam
*
M’laya
The M'laya ( ar, ملاية) is a black veil that covers the whole body, it originated in Algeria.
The origin of the M'laya goes back to the 18th century and is connected to the death of Salah Bey who was the Bey of Constantine. Following his ...
References
Arab culture
Arabic clothing
Tunisian culture
Algerian culture
Libyan culture
Moroccan culture
Islamic female clothing
{{clothing-stub