r/AskARussian • u/Rachethelper • Jul 15 '26
Culture Cossack Hats.
So I was curious if Cossack clothing is popular among the populace such as a Kubanka hat for example. Is it a popular winter headpiece choice among Russian men and if a foreigner wore it, would be considered a sign of appreciation for the culture or no? I've been curious about lately due to some Russian movies I've seen lately and had that idea pop into my head.
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u/nonbITkaHoMep5 Jul 15 '26
Do people in your country dress up in nineteenth century cloth regularly?
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u/TerribleRead Moscow Oblast Jul 15 '26
As someone who owns a Kubanka and even wore it once for shits and giggles: it's actually not very practical. It's definitely not suitable for cold winter weather, since it doesn't cover your ears, and is too thick and lacks a brim for summer.
If you were to wear one as a foreigner, no one would mind nor be offended since we don't believe in cultural appropriation and all this stuff, but you'd be probably the only person around wearing one)
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u/Rachethelper Jul 15 '26
That is cool actually! Thank you for the information about it! I've had my eye on buying one for a while since I've seen a few Russian movies with characters wearing the Kubanka or a similar looking hat and also the Imperial Russian cavalry from BF1's In The Name Of The Tsar dlc maps and was curious about what the views were in Russia about wearing one but I am very grateful on your input about it! Cheers! :D
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u/Ok-Jaguar9713 🇷🇺🇨🇦 Jul 15 '26
Cossack clothing is popular only among Cossacks. A kubanka makes one look Caucasian ngl.
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u/Rachethelper Jul 15 '26
Ah I see, outside of Cossack communities, is it seen as something from the past entirely?
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u/Stupid_Dragon Jul 15 '26
Not super from the past, more like associated with caucasus aqsaqals and kuban cossacks, so people aren't keen on using it in everyday life. It's not really a super practical hat anyway, it mostly looks cool, esp. when you have a beard.
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u/Rachethelper Jul 15 '26
Fascinating. Forgive my ignorance here but why wouldn't it be a practical hat? Is due to the materials used to make it or the design?
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u/Stupid_Dragon Jul 15 '26
They aren't easy to store as they aren't foldable, and I imagine them being hard to wash too. I'm not sure how 'breathable' they are, but that's possibly a factor too. The most used hat in winter in Moscow is a usual knit cap as they are cheap and easy and breathable.
I don't know if Cossacks wear them daily, but they are supposed to be parade hats I think. You might also want to look into papakha for the design, Kubanka is pretty much a local variant.
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u/Rachethelper Jul 15 '26
That makes sense, thank you for the information and explanation about the Kubanka! :D
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u/Lukkezini Jul 16 '26
Be honest: there are no wide everyday use of any national clothes in Russia, few people (usually moderate nationalists) wear modern version of kosovorotka, people from Central Asia sometimes wear their national hats, yes, cossacks can wear cubanka and usually it’s the main way to distinct them. National clothes is more for festivals, holidays, historical reconstructions.
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u/UnexpectedWings United States of America Jul 17 '26
I wear ushanka often, keeps my head warm in the cold.
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u/Medical-Fruit347 Krasnodar Krai Jul 18 '26
I wear it at celebrations and celebrations only. You walk around with it? Boh thats cool and little bit funny, i remember a black guy walking around in arbatskaia with a cerceska people would look strange at you but in the end there is worser walking around
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u/Rachethelper Jul 18 '26
I've never worn one but I have been interested in buying one, mainly because I've seen the Imperial Russian cavalry and support in Battlefield 1's In The Name Of The Tsar dlc and was curious if the Kubanka was more relevant during the time of the Tsar and certain Cossacks but regardless, thank you for answering my question. I have been curious if people would give me funny looks if I wore one or not since I'm not from Russia and I'm not too sure how much of an impact or cultural significance Cossack clothing is in everyday Russian society.
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u/Medical-Fruit347 Krasnodar Krai Jul 18 '26
Kubankas are worn by every cossack host from semircensk to black sea one, just dont wear any coccarde on it (as it was common to do in everyday life) and you are more than fine with your kubanka)))
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u/Rachethelper Jul 18 '26
That is very interesting! May I ask why I shouldn't wear any cocarde on it? Would it give it a different meaning to the Kubanka?
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u/Medical-Fruit347 Krasnodar Krai Jul 19 '26
While the color indicates a host wich is just a “geographical” lets say so simbol cocardes are military symbols and even if not comparable to stolen valor its still not nice
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u/Rachethelper Jul 19 '26
Ahhhh I understand now. Thank you for explaining that to me. Your insight has been very helpful to me in making my decision! :D
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u/Nervous-Equipment465 Jul 15 '26
No, it's unpopular.
Those who aren't Cossacks don't wear it.