ushanka

You see them all the time in movies: fur hats that look so comfortable and warm, which every Russian character seems to wear. But how accurate is that stereotype? Let’s take a look at the country that made fur hats famous: Russia.Fur hats have been popular in cold climates for millennia, but according to correspondent Darya Pushkova, the ushanka, or “ear-flap hat,” became an icon for the Soviet Union in the twentieth century. These hats were a mandatory part of the military uniform, due to the bitter Russian cold. Now the ushanka is part of the winter military uniform for the United States, Canada, and other Western countries. Ironically, the Russian military has changed their fur hat design to a rounder style with no flaps.