The Neck Tie-Cravat
Hrvat means Croat=Cravat
As
millions around the world dress to go to work each day or to go out for the
evening, most probably do not realize that a major accessory of their wardrobe
originated in Croatia. The necktie, or kravata, is Croatia's contribution to
the world of fashion. The use of the necktie in Croatia dates back to as early
as the mid-1600s. During the European Thirty Year War (1618-1648), Croatian
soldiers were also drawn into battle and sent to fight in various regions of
Europe. At that time, the traditional Croatian military dress included a
picturesque scarf tied around the neck in a manner which is very similar to the
style in which the necktie is worn today. In 1618, some agents of the Holy
Roman Emperor were in Prague being disagreeable. Some citizens threw the agents
out a window. The agents landed on a dunghill, so they survived. Nevertheless, they were, in a foul
temper, and (to simplify a bit) the “Defenestration of Prague" led to the
Thirty Years War, which quickly, led to the need for Croatian mercenarie's.
They were rough-and-ready fellows, but they did not neglect the decorative
arts: They wore colorful neckwear. The word "'cravat" is derived from
the word “Croat” and neckties are descended from what those Croatians wore. It
is unclear why those Croatians execited so much imitation. Few people at the
moment are sticklers about following the fashions of Croatian mercenaries.
Because some Croatian soldiers were stationed in Paris, this "Croatian
style" greatly impressed their French counterparts. French men adopted
this new fashion during the reign of Louis XIV and referred to it as "a la
Croate". Eventually, it became known by the French word
"cravate". The tie entered the bourgeois fashion of that era as a
sign of cultivation and elegance and went on to conquer the whole of Europe.
Today, men across the entire civilized world tie knots in neckties in every
imaginable color and made from a wide array of materials from silk to burlap.
Unlike many fashions, which fade or disappear over time, the necktie has
retained its popularity for hundreds of years and is still considered a basic
item of most men's wardrobes, rather than just a decorative accessory. As the
court of Lottis XIV was a trendsetter in culture and fashion, the use of the
"'cravate" became wide- spread across Europe, with each country
adopting a slightly altered word in their own language.
NAMES
FOR THE NECKTIE (CRAVAT) AROUND THE WORLD: Hungarian: Kravat, English:
Cravat-Neck Tie, Portuguese: Oravata, Croatian: Kravata, Polish: Krawat,
German: Krawatte, Italian: Cravatta, French: Cravate, Spanish: Corvatta.