Aburnous (Arabic:برنوس,romanized: burnūs), alsoburnoose,burnouse,bournous orbarnous, is a longcloak of coarsewoollen fabric with a pointed hood, often white, traditionally worn byArab andBerber men in North Africa.[1] Historically, the white burnous was worn during important events by men of high positions. Today, men of different social standing may wear it for ceremonial occasions, such as weddings or on religious and national holidays.[2][3][4]
The word burnous (Arabic:برنوس) is an Arabic word for a "long, loose hooded cloak worn by Arabs", which itself is derived from theGreek word "birros".[5] The word is found in ahadith byMuhammad that prohibited the burnous and various other clothing duringHajj. InMashriqi sources, it denotes a long hood or body garment.[6] The burnous was also present in the early MuslimArabian Peninsula.[7] Various nineteenth century sources have referred to the burnous as an Arab cloak.[8][9][10]
In antiquity this garment was referred to asbyruss Numidicus meaning "Numidian hooded cloak" and was mentioned as such in theExpositio totius mundi et gentium.[11] In theMaghreb, the colour of the burnous may be white, beige, or dark brown. There are rock engravings nearSigus that attest the existence of the burnous in the ancient times and that it was worn by theNumidians and inhabitants of theArabian Desert.[12][13]
During the French colonial period in Algeria (1830–1962), the burnous became a symbol of identity for Algerians. Many Algerians, including those who were not nomadic, began wearing the burnous as a way to assert their cultural heritage and resist French influence.
The burnous was also worn during theAlgerian War of Independence (1954–1962), both as a symbol of resistance and as a practical garment for guerrilla fighters operating in the mountains and deserts.[14]
Today, the burnous remains an important symbol of Algerian culture and identity. It is often worn on special occasions, such as weddings and religious festivals, and is sometimes used as a costume in traditional dance performances.[15][16]It also forms part of the ceremonial uniform worn by the mounted cavalry detachment of theAlgerian Republican Guard.
The burnous became a distinctive part of the uniform of the FrenchArmy of Africa'sspahi cavalry, recruited in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.[17] It was also sometimes worn unofficially by officers or soldiers of other units inNorth Africa. The white burnous remains part of the parade uniform of the one remaining spahi regiment of the French Army: the1st Spahi Regiment.[18]
Other names for a burnous includealbornoz,sbernia,sberna, andbernusso.
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