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Qarqush, who does really know about it? How many publications did write about
it? It’s clear that it’s been neglected even though it’s an essential tradition for many
Yemenis..
By Afrah Nasser

Qarqush is a cultural traditional aspect
of Yemen that little has been said about.
It’s untold story of how Yemeni families
used it as a sign of their sense of care and
fondness to their infants. In addition, it’s an
indication of Yemenis’ sense of art.
Simply, Yemen is a rich country, with
diverse traditional heritage and one of its
traditions is Qarqush that has an importance
among its people.
Qarqush
Qarqush is an old traditional hat worn
by infants and brides. It’s a long time
traditional costume for many Yemeni
children and brides. It’s a colorful piece
made of fabric or wool, along with glittery,
colorful and golden strings. Infants wear it
in their heads once they are born till they
reach certain age. It aims to protect the child
once he is born from feeling cold or from
evil approaches.
Normally, it’s hand made by mothers
or other women. Mothers usually buy
them during their Qat chewing sessions
when other women sell them. In addition,
Qarqush could be bought in local markets
in villages and is given as gifts between
women to newly mothers. Though,
nowadays it is hard to find it in the regular
markets. If found now, it definitely would
have been transformed into a modern one
that has lost the old traditional look.
Essentially, Qarqush is no longer worn in
Yemen today but it could be found in several
villages and rarely in wedding parties for
women. In actual fact, this hat has been

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very important for most of Yemeni parents,
making sure that their children wear it.
Its Origin
It is hard to trace back to its original
source; when exactly it was initiated and
who exactly wore it first. Some historians
believe it originated from the Ottomans
era. In 1516, the Mamluks of Egypt
occupied Yemen; but in the following
year, the Mamluk governor surrendered
to the Ottomans, and Turkish armies
consequently overran the country. From
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then until the 19th century, the Ottomans
retained control only of isolated coastal
areas, while the highlands generally were
ruled by the Zaidi Imams.
Yemen got very much tainted with a
number of cultural and traditional aspects
by the Ottomans. Ottoman suzerainty was
reestablished in northern Yemen in the late
19th century but its control was largely
confined to cities, and the Zaidi Imam’s rule
over Upper Yemen was formally recognized.
Turkish forces withdrew in 1918, and
Many Yemenis associate their childhood
with their Qarqushes, since it’s rare
to find today. Nowadays, brides put it
gracefully with pride, assuring their
affiliation with traditions.
Imam Yahya Muhammad strengthened
his control over northern Yemen creating
the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.
During all these years, Yemen, especially
the northern part, is believed to have
inherited a great amount of traditional flavor
from the Ottomans.
Types of Qarqush
Usually, there are two main different types
of Qarqush. One is for boys and the other
is for girls. Fascinatingly, boys’ type has
a more sparkling look than the girls’ type.
Hence, anyone could easily differentiate
between young infants whether they are
boys or girls.
Some types of infants’ Qarqush have black
beans inside them as a tool of protection
from envy. Occasionally, Quranic verses or
divine words are written on Qarqushes. It
has been believed that same would protect
the infants from devil and envy.
Additionally, there is one type for brides.
It’s an important type that has gold or silver
accessories that’s intended as a symbol
of adornment. Today, girls have brought
Qarqush into a modern world where they
mixed tradition with modernity. That’s
to mean, they put modern jewelry in the
traditional Qarqush. Brides can chose
to wear Qarqush or not in their wedding
parties. However, it’s been part of many
girls’ wedding and parties’ costumes,
embellished with gold jewelry. Till today,
some girls wear this type.
Qarqush’s traditional impact
It’s been always a very common tradition
in most of Yemeni villages. However,
it’s becoming rare to find, nowadays, in
Yemen’s big cities.
Traditionally, boys and girls wear it until
they are one year old, but in a number of
villages girls wear it until they get married.
It’s greatly believed that it’s shameful that
a girl shows her hair before she is married.
Hence, she must not show her hair to her
father, brothers, male members of her family
and, interestingly, women. The reason for
not showing it to women is not because
it’s shameful, but because the girl wants to
surprise all the women with her hair in her
wedding party when she gets married.
Nevertheless, newly born girls might wear
it temporarily until they are one year old
and then take it off. Later on, they might
wear it again when they are 10 as they are
approaching marriage age to make it a sign
of being single.
On the other hand, for infants, it could be an
indicator of how much caring they family
is. The more distinguished the Qarqush
is, the more caring the family is towards
their infants. Moreover, for many families,
it’s a way to assure tradition and exclusive
Yemeni cultural feature.
Whether infants or brides wear it, Qarqush
forms a significant cultural face of Yemen.
Many Yemenis associate their childhood
with their Qarqushes, since it’s rare to find
today. Nowadays, brides put it gracefully
with pride, assuring their affiliation with
traditions. It’s agreed among Yemenis how
important it is, making it one of the main old
cultural traditions.
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