black hats and hair locks

[mata hati]

Can anyone tell me when it became traditional for Jewish men to wear hair locks and black hats, please?

[dot.hawkes]

"You shall not destroy* the corners of your hair nor shave* the corners of your beard..." (Leviticus 19/27)

[MustafaTickl]

Leviticus was also much into burnt offerings.

[dundurn]

The idea of not cutting your hair and always wearing some form of head covering originates directly from the Torah - see previous answers. The particular style of dress to which I think you are referring would normally be thought of as 'Hassidic' and originated in Poland in around the 16th century. It represented the most fashionable and expensive dress of its time and place and would be equivalent to wearing YSL or Gucci today. The fact that it hasn't changed for 400 years is really unusual - in the spirit of its origins it would be regularly updated.

[mata hati]

Thanks for your informative answers Dot and Mustafa!!
I'm of to google that reference now!

I suppose thats why a lot of old religious paintings show everyone with rectangular faces?

and the slightly too small black hats......??

regards
Mata

[mata hati]

Thank you Dundurn, thats really interesting.
Every Sunday here in France we watch the religious programme over breakfast. It gives an interesting insite into different religions. Of course its all in a different language, but that dosn't detract. We arn't religious at all but I think its a good idea and interesting, and helps people to understand what other religions are all about!
regards, Mata

[Lonnie]

The above answers are correct, but to add a bit more, which would explain the black hats, the clothes the Frums wear which includes the hats, dates from the Polish nobility of the Middle Ages.

For religious reasons, so long as the head is covered, the head covering can be any colour.

[Lonnie]

My apologies dundurn, I never read your reply fully.