Songkok, also called peci or kopiah, is a kind of traditional hat for Malays. In Indonesia, the songkok also known as peci later became part of national dress, and worn by Muslims. Songkok is also used by soldiers and police of Malaysia and Brunei at certain ceremonies. This head cover is a variation of Fes or Tharbusy from Morocco.
Songkok is popular with Malays in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and southern Thailand. This equipment is said to come from the clothes worn in Ottoman Turkey. Songkok became popular among Indian Muslims and according to later experts gradually became a songkok in the Malay world. In the Malay literature, songkok has been mentioned in Syair Siti Zubaidah (1840) "... in white shirt red crooked ...."
For Muslims in the archipelago, songkok becomes the official head wear when attending official ceremonies such as marriage ceremonies, Friday prayers, religious ceremonies and when welcoming Idul Fitri and Eid al-Adha. Songkok is also used as a complement to traditional Malay clothes worn to attend certain meetings.
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