Editors, Keepers
4,456
edits
Difference between revisions of "Safehand"
complete
Big Smooth (talk | contribs) (add a bit more info and reorganize) |
Big Smooth (talk | contribs) (complete) |
||
|
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Safehand''' is a [[Roshar]]an term for a woman's left hand. According to cultural tradition in the [[Vorin]] kingdoms, it is improper for a woman to leave her safehand uncovered.{{wob ref|12977}} A woman's right hand is often referred to as their '''freehand'''.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
{{image|Vorin Havah.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Examples of havahs from a fashion folio, showing different types of safehand sleeves}}
The tradition of covering one's safehand is primarily practiced by women in the Vorin nations of [[Alethkar]], [[Jah Keved]], [[Kharbranth]], [[New Natanan]], and [[Thaylenah]]. Girls begin covering their left hand at around twelve years of age, and it is seen as a rite of passage.{{book ref|sa2|19}} It is kept hidden from view whenever possible, even when wearing a robe in front of bathing attendants before actually entering the bath.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Only family members are touched with a covered safehand,{{book ref|sa1|22}} as it is considered to be a fairly intimate gesture.{{book ref|sa3|18}}{{book ref|sa4|43}} Intentionally showing your safehand is considered an exceptionally private act,
Covering the left hand is not thought of as a major inconvenience among Alethi and Veden nobility, since [[lighteyes|lighteyed]] women are able to pursue one-handed hobbies such as painting and writing.{{wob ref|4447}} Among the upper class, the most common method of covering the safehand is by wearing a [[havah]], a traditional dress that includes an oversized sleeve that loosely covers the left hand.{{book ref|sa1|3}} The
[[darkeyes|Darkeyed]] women often choose to wear a glove instead of a sleeve; they are not concerned about putting on airs and are more likely to need both hands to perform their jobs or household duties.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|6}} [[Thaylen]] women, who are less devout than the Alethi and come from a society of sailors, also typically wear gloves.{{book ref|sa1|8}}{{book ref|sa1|i|4}} Gloves are considered less modest than sleeves.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
== Notes ==
<references />
{{
{{Stormlight}}
[[Category: Vorinism]]
| |||