Removing clothing as an act of subjugation began when the Assyrians routinely humiliated their captives by making them strip naked.
The Greeks amended this by requiring their new servants to strip only from the waist up.
By the Middle Ages, a serf had to remove only his hat in the presence of his superiors.
Following these gestures of respect for the master is the reason Christian men remove their hats in church and why Muslims leave their shoes by the mosque door.
Related Posts
-
Where Did the Custom of Wedding Banns Before a Marriage Come From and What Does the Tradition Mean?
The custom of proclaiming wedding banns began in 800 AD when Roman Emperor Charlemagne became alarmed by the high rate of inter-breeding throughout his empire. He ordered that all marriages be publicly announced…
-
Where Did the Tradition of Flying Flags At Half-Staff Come From and What Does the Custom Mean?
In the sixteenth century, ships would lower their flag halfway as a sign of submission during battle, and it was said they were flying at "half-mast." On reaching port, the flag remained half-lowered…
-
How Did the Tradition of Putting Candles on a Birthday Cake Originate and What Does the Custom Mean?
The Greeks borrowed celebrating birthdays from the Egyptian pharaohs and the cake idea from the Persians. Then early Christians did away with birthday parties for a while until the custom re-emerged with candles…
-
How Did the Custom of Throwing Confetti at a Wedding Originate and What Does the Tradition Mean?
Because the main purpose of marriage was to produce children, ancient peoples showered the new bride with fertility symbols such as wheat grain. The Romans baked this wheat into small cakes for the…
-
Where Did the Custom of Saying Grace Before a Meal Come From and Why Was the Tradition Once Performed After?
Today, we say grace before a meal in thanksgiving for an abundance of food, but in ancient times, food spoiled quickly, often causing illness or even death. Nomadic tribes experimenting with unfamiliar plants…
-
How Did the Custom of the “Bridal” Party Originate and Where Did the Tradition of a Wedding Reception Come From?
The expressions bridal feast, bridal bed, and bridal cake, among other bridal references, all date back to around 1200, when a wedding was a rather boisterous and bawdy affair. The word bridal comes…
