What is a Balaclava?
A balaclava is a combination head and neck covering which provides a great deal of warmth. One most commonly sees the balaclava on skiers or worn as a part of military outfitting to reduce one’s visibility to others. To US English speakers, balaclava is not a common word and one would traditionally see the term ski mask used instead. In fact we are likely indebted to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series for reintroducing the term balaclava to common usage in America.
The common balaclava is typically made of wool, though some may also be made of acrylic, cotton, or fleece. The balaclava covers the head, ears and neck, but has an opening for the eyes. Usually the balaclava also includes a tiny opening near the nostrils for easier breathing. The hat/scarf combo can just become a hat by rolling up the scarf portion into the hat in many models. Thus if the neck or chin becomes too warm, the balaclava can be easily converted.
The word balaclava is named after the town of Balaklava, Crimea. During the Crimean War of 1854-1856, many of the British troops were unused to the extremely cold winter conditions. People from Balaklava sent these hand knitted “ski masks” to help provide extra warmth for the British soldiers.
One often sees the balaclava worn in outdoor winter sports. As well, the balaclava made of silk might be most associated with ninjas. Any modern ninja costume tends to include a balaclava portion. Sadly, the garment is also associated with terrorists and criminals, who wish anonymity while committing illegal acts.
Frequently, competitive auto racers use a flame retardant balaclava underneath their helmets. This is thought to protect the face should a racecar accidentally catch fire. In addition, it allows some filtration of smoke by shielding the mouth, providing the driver with slightly more time for rescuers to reach him or her.
Balaclava is occasionally confused with Baklava, which is a Middle Eastern dessert made from layers of puff pastry, nuts and honey. Confusing the two might have one literally eating one’s hat.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
