#partially inspired by that one romeo and juliet post where mercutio and juliet have a marriage of convenience

[augustjustice]

In a regency AU, Steve and Robin and Eddie and Chrissy would be lavender married, respectively, and live in neighboring estates. Every night, Robin and Eddie high five as they pass each other walking through their adjoining yards, on their way to go and rail their one true loves.

[cassiachloe]

Locks, also known as Dreadlocks, Elf Locks, Locs, Dreads, Plica, Fairy-locks or in Sanskrit, Jaṭā, are one of the eldest hair styles in the world. Idigenious to every continent, locks are rich in history & meaning. For many they represent wisdom, protection and magic, though for each individual and culture the meaning is vastly different.

Exploring the global history of locks: 'The oldest depiction of locs is in ancient Crete, now part of Greece, in 1500 BCE in the Minoan Civilization. Locked hair has also been found in mummified remains of ancient Egypt. A photograph in 1885 depicts a Native American Chief with locked hair. The style was also worn by Ancient Christian Ascetics in the Middle East and Mediterranean, and the Dervishes of Islam, among others. Some of the very earliest adherents of Christianity in the Middle East may have worn this hairstyle; there are descriptions of James the Just, first Bishop of Jerusalem, who is said to have worn them to his ankles.In Senegal, the Baye Fall, followers of the Mouride movement, a Sufi movement of Islam founded in 1887 AD by Shaykh Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke, are famous for growing dreadlocks and wearing multi-colored gowns. Maasai warriors are known for their long, thin, red dreadlocks, dyed with red root extracts or red ochre. Some Indigenous Australians of North West and North Central Australia have historically worn their hair in a locked style, sometimes also having long beards that are fully or partially locked. Within Tibetan Buddhism and other more esoteric forms of Buddhism, locks have occasionally been substituted for the more traditional shaved head. Rastafari movement dreadlocks are symbolic of the Lion of Judah. Their dreadlocks were inspired by the Nazarites of the Bible. In Europe the ‘Polish Plait’ or ‘plica’ is documented and depicted in the 1700’s, though dates back much further and is associated with European folklore. ‘Elflocks’ worn by Druids who were the shamans and mystics of the Celts. The earliest written record of ‘Elflocks’ in folklore comes from the 15th Century Shakespeare in 'Romeo and Juliet' worn by the gypsy girl Mercutio. ‘Elflocks’ too are discussed in Jane Eyre worn by the fortune teller. In folk-lore, ‘Elflocks’ or ‘Fairy-locks’ are thought to be made by faeries, and thought to be unlucky if combed out.'

I’ve named only a few examples of locks around the world, and they are rich in History, and I do not doubt the style is as old as humanity itself. Dreadlocks today are seen throughout the world, and more famously known as worn in both Rastafarianism and by the Sadhu Ascetic Monks in India.

In the UK, locs have long been associated with gypsies, druids and the Windrush generation of the 40’s-60s. Later, locs became an integrated part of a variety of old and new music cultures, and free music culture, as well counter-cultural and political movements.

I can recall when travelling different people’s reactions to my hair. The reaction of Cambodian people, who repeatedly asked if I was ‘voodoo’, as they felt my hair was worn only by witches, especially knowing my vegetarian diet. Where as, while traveling in China my hair was met with a lot of mistrust, so I tied my hair back with a scarf, which changed people’s reaction towards me drastically.

I won't go into their meaning for me in this post. Nor would I even try to express or communicate the meaning of locks to others and different cultures. Yet it's fascinating to explore the breadth and depth of such an ancient hair style.