Role and functions of the shirt in birth customs

Besides its utilitarian roles (protection against cold) in the folklore culture, clothing performed some symbolic functions as well. In this regard the clothing of the newborn presents special interest. According to popular beliefs, the spirits of illnesses could hide not only inside a child, but also on its clothes. Therefore, because the clothing was in a direct touch with the child’s body, many rituals were carried out with the scope of some therapeutic actions, cure. One of the most used item of clothing was the shirt, as according to the popular beliefs, it was the most intimate, and connected with the personality of the one who wore it. Being assimilated to the “second skin” it performed several functions. It played the role of an instrument by means of which the child socialized and got integrated into society. It could transmit some positive qualities. The shirt also performed some protective therapeutic and modeling functions of the child’s physical and psychical state on a magical level

Aesthetics · Art · Clothing · Folklore · Personality · Political science · Psychoanalysis · Scope (computer science · Sociology · State (computer science · The Symbolic · Computer Science · Cultural and Sociopolitical Studies · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology