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The għonnella, pronounced "awe-''nel''-la" (pl. ''għenienel'', pronounced "ee-''nee''-nal"), sometimes referred to as a ''Faldetta'', was a form of women's head dress and shawl, or hooded cloak, unique to the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. In the dialects of the south-east of Malta it was referred to as ċulqana while in the dialect of Għargħur it was referred to as stamijna. It was generally made of cotton or silk, and usually black or some other dark colour, although from the sixteenth century onwards, noble women and women from wealthier households frequently wore white or brightly coloured ''għenienel''. The ''għonnella'' covered the head, and framed but did not cover the face. The upper part of the ''għonnella'' was starched quite stiffly, and given a broad, rounded frame, formed by means of a board, cane, or whalebone. This gave the ''għonnella'' a mysterious but alluring, sail-like appearance. From a practical perspective, this broad bonnet captured much needed cooling breezes during the hot Maltese summer. On cooler days, the wearer could wrap the ''għonnella'' around her face more tightly, by making a slight adjustment. The lower part of the ''għonnella'' could be worn loosely draped around the wearer's bodice and hips, or more tightly wrapped in the case of inclement weather. It would typically fall to mid-calf length. While walking, the wearer would hold one or both sides of the ''għonnella'' clasped in her right hand. == Origins == The origins of the ''għonnella'' are unknown. It has been described as a "western garment, worn in an eastern fashion."〔The Chamber's Journal (1840). Translated by Robert Attard, "Faldetta (1772)" in ''Malta: A Collection of Tales and Narratives'' (The Edward De Bono Foundation: Malta, 2001), at pp. 37-9.〕 Maltese historians Ciantar and Abela were of the view that the ''għonnella'' had evolved from traditional Sicilian dress:
According to local legend, the ''għonnella'' was first introduced to Malta in 1224 C.E. as a sign of mourning by the women of Celano in the Abruzzi region of Italy,〔("Traditional Gozo", online at Gozo.com )〕 who were said to have been expelled - first to Sicily, and then to Malta - by Enrico de Morra, acting on the orders of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, following the massacre of their husbands. There is some historical evidence of this event recorded in the chronicles of Riccardo di San Germano:
An alternate legend, which plays on the similarity between the ''Faldetta'' and a traditional nun's habit, suggests that the women of Malta adopted this costume in 1798, to ward off the unwanted advances of Napoleon Bonaparte's troops. However, this theory was dismissed as a fairy tale in a National Geographic essay about Malta (1935).〔Sir Harry Luke, "The Maltese Islands", The National Geographic Magazine, 1935.〕 According to yet another legend, the ''għonnella'' developed due to the strict Canonical requirement (pre-Vatican Council II) that women veil their head before entering a Catholic church. It is said that poorer country girls, who could not afford a cloak or shawl, met the veiling requirement by placing a spare skirt over their head, which gradually evolved into the ''għonnella''. Others speculate that it is a vernacular modification of the eastern veil; it could also be a local variation of the Spanish mantilla.〔Frank Scicluna, "Legends, Customs and Beliefs" (1999: Adelaide, Australia), online at allmalta.com ()〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Għonnella」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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