Beard

:''For another meaning of this word, see Beard (female companion)'' A beard is the hair that grows on a man's chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip (the opposite is a clean-shaven face). In the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom, sexual potency, or high status, but also a lack of cleanliness and refinement, or an eccentric disposition. Beards also play an important role in some religions. Zeus and Poseidon are always portrayed with beards, but Apollo never is. A bearded Hermes was replaced with the more familiar beardless youth in the 5th century. Amish and Hutterite men shave until they are married, then grow a beard and are never thereafter without one, although it is a particular form of a beard (see Visual markers of marital status). In Orthodox Christianity, beards are worn by the priesthood, and at times have been required for all believers - see Old Believers. Sikhs do not remove a single hair from their body. Many devout Muslims also grow their facial hair, in emulation of Muhammad. In Judaism, Leviticus 19:27 states that "Ye shall not round the comers of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." Talmud rabbi understood this to mean not that a man not be clean-shaven, but only that he should not shave the hair with a razor. Because it has two blades, while a razor has only one, halakha permits the use of scissors to trim the beard. For this reason, many Jews use electric razors, which have two or more blades. Regardless of the fact that it is not entirely required by law, many Jews wear a beard simply because it is customary, and it signifies their Jewishness. In urban circles of Western Europe and the Americas, beards were out of fashion after the early 17th century; to such an extent that, in 1698, Peter the Great of Russia levied a tax on beards in order to bring Russian society more in line with contemporary Western Europe. Beards returned to fashion after the Napoleonic Era, and were out of fashion again by the first part of the 20th century. Beards, together with long hair, were reintroduced to mainstream society in Western Europe and North America by the hippie movement of the mid 1960s. By the end of the of the 20th century, the closely clipped #Beard Styles beard, often with a matching integrated moustache, was relatively common, as was a #Beard Styles beard (especially on younger men). #Beard Styles beards nonetheless remain a fringe phenomenon. Beard hair is most commonly removed by shaving. If only the area above the upper lip is left unshaven, the resulting facial hairstyle is known as a moustache; if hair is left only on the chin, the style is a goatee. It is decidedly less common to see a beard or goatee without a corresponding moustache. == History == [[Image:pericles.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Pericles, like most Athenians in the 5th century BC, sported a beard]] Ancient Egyptians associated facial hair with mourning. With the exception of a pencil-thin moustache or goatees, they generally found beards unattractive. It was a custom among the Romans to consecrate the first growth of their beard to some god; thus Nero at the Gynick games, which he exhibited in the Septa, cut off the first growth of his beard, which he placed in a golden box, adorned with pearls, and then consecrated it in the Capitoline Hill to Jupiter (god). The nations in the east generally treated their beards with great care and veneration, and the punishment for licentiousness and adultery was to have the beard of the offending parties publicly cut off. Such a sacred regard had they for the preservation of their beards, that a man might pledge it for the payment of a debt. Among the Romans a bearded man was a proverbial expression for a man of virtue and simplicity. The Romans during grief and mourning used to let their hair and beard grow (Livy), while the History of Greeces on the contrary used to cut off their hair and shave their beards on such occasions (Seneca) (From this custom probably originated that in England, of widows concealing their hair for a stated period after the death of their husbands. Indeed, we know of more than one instance of a widow closely cutting off her hair. But these sorrowful observances are becoming less and less frequent). When Alexander the Great was going to fight against the Persians, one of his officers brought him word that all was ready for battle, and demanded if he required anything further. On which Alexander replied, "nothing but that the Macedonians cut off their beards, for there is not a better handle to take a man by than the beard." This shows Alexander intended close fighting. Shaving was not introduced among the Romans until late. Pliny tells us that P. Ticinius was the first who brought a barber to Rome, which was in the 454th year from the building of the city. Scipio Africanus was the first among the Romans who shaved his beard, and the Emperor Hadrian (says Dion,) was the first of all the Caesars who nourished his beard. The Roman servants or slaves were not allowed to pull their hair, or shave their beards. The Jews thought it ignominious to lose their beards (Bible: 2 Samuels ch. 10, verse 4). Among the Catti, a Germany tribe (perhaps the Chatten), a young man was not allowed to shave or cut his hair till he had slain an enemy (Tacitus). The Lombards or Longobards, derived their Fame from the great length of their beards. When Otho the Great used to speak anything serious, he swore by his beard, which covered his breast. The Persians are fond of long beards. We read in Olearius' Travels of a king of Persia who had commanded his steward's head to be cut off, and on its being brought to him, he remarked, "what a pity it was, that a man possessing such fine mustachios, should have been executed," but added he, "Ah! it was your own fault." The Normans considered the beard as an indication of distress and misery. The Anglo-Saxons used to wear the hair on the upper lip, and so strongly were they attached to this custom, that when William the Conqueror ordered them to shave their upper lip, it was so repugnant to their feelings, that many of them chose rather to abandon their country than resign their mustachios. In the 15th century, the beard was worn long. In the 16th, it was suffered to grow to an amazing length, (see the portraits of Bishop Gardiner, and Reginald Cardinal Pole, during Mary I of England reign) and very often made use of as a tooth-pick case. Brantome tells us that Admiral Coligny wore his tooth-pick in his beard. == Early Christian attitudes == *"The hair of the chin showed him to be a man." Clement of Alexandria (c.195, E), 2.271 *"How womanly it is for one who is a man to comb himself and shave himself with a razor, for the sake of fine effect, and to arrange his hair at the mirror, shave his cheeks, pluck hairs out of them, and smooth them!…For God wished women to be smooth and to rejoice in their locks alone growing spontaneously, as a horse in his mane. But He adorned man like the lions, with a beard, and endowed him as an attribute of manhood, with a hairy chest--a sign of strength and rule." St. Clement of Alexandria, 2.275 *“This, then, is the mark of the man, the beard. By this, he is seen to be a man. It is older than Eve. It is the token of the superior nature….It is therefore unholy to desecrate the symbol of manhood, hairiness.” St. Clement of Alexandria, 2.276 *"It is not lawful to pluck out the beard, man’s natural and noble adornment." St. Clement of Alexandria, 2.277 *"In their manners, there was no discipline. In men, their beards were defaced." Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.438 *"The beard must not be plucked. 'You will not deface the figure of your beard'." [Lev 19:32] St. Cyprian, 5.553 *"The nature of the beard contributes in an incredible degree to distinguish the maturity of bodies, or to distinguish the sex, or to contribute to the beauty of manliness and strength." Lactantius (c. 304-314, W), 7.288 *"Men may not destroy the hair of their beards and unnaturally change the form of a man. For the Law says, “You will not deface your beards.” For God the Creator has made this decent for women, but has determined that it is unsuitable for men." Apostolic Constitutions (compiled c.390, E) 7.392. (1) == Modern attitudes in America == From the 1920s to the 1960s, beards were virtually forbidden in mainstream America. The few men who wore beards during this period were either old, Central Europeans in academia, or part of the counterculture, such as the "beatniks". Even today there is prejudice against beards and against men who wear beards, although it is much less serious than it once was. It has been noted that there is a close and consistent association of long standing in American film between facial hair and role -- if one lead male character has more facial hair than another, he is far more likely to be the antagonist, and the man with less (or no) facial hair the protagonist. The enlistment of military recruits for World War I in 1914 precipitated a major migration of men from rural to urban locales. This was the largest such migration that had ever occurred in the United States up to that time. The rural lives of some of these bearded men included the "Saturday Night bath" as a reality rather than as a humorism. The sudden concentration of recruits in crowded army induction centers brought with it disease, including head lice. Remedial action was taken by immediately shaving the faces and cutting the hair of all inductees upon their arrival. When the war concluded in 1918 the "dough boys" returned to a hero's welcome. During this time period the Film Industry was coming into its own and "going to the movies" became an extremely popular pastime. Due to the recent Armistice many of the films, for example ''All Quiet on the Western Front'', had themes related to World War I. These popular films featured actors who portrayed soldiers with their clean shaven faces and "crew cuts". Concurrently, "Madison Avenue's" psychological mass marketing was becoming prevalent. The Gillette Safety Razor Company was one of these marketers' early clients. These events conspired to popularize short hair and clean shaven faces as the only acceptable style for decades to come. Today, with some exceptions - for practical reasons, it is illegal for boxer to have beards - beards are much more accepted in the western world than they once were. == The Armed Forces == Many armed forces still prohibit beards. The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps justify banning beards on the basis of both hygiene and of the necessity for a good seal with gas masks. The United States Navy did allow beards for a time in the 1970s and 1980s, but subsequently banned them again. The vast majority of police forces across the United States still ban beards. However, mustaches are generally allowed in both the military and police forces. In the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy allows "full sets" (beards and moustaches together) but not beards or moustaches alone. The other British armed services allow moustaches only. Exceptions are beards grown for religious reasons (usually by Sikhs) or medical reasons, or by infantry military engineer Warrant Officers, Colour Sergeants and sergeants, who traditionally wear beards. Any style of facial hair is allowed in British police forces as long as it is neatly trimmed. Beards are permitted in the armed forces of a number of European and Asian countries. == Sayings about beards == *"There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless—boys and women, and I am neither one".
—Greek saying. ==Beard styles== * Full beard - downward flowing beard with either styled or integrated moustache * Goatee - a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin, in some cases resembling that of a billy goat * Garibaldi - wide, full beard with rounded bottom and integrated moustache * Royale (or imp�riale) - is a tuft of hair under the lower lip. * Stubble - a very short beard of only one to a few days growth * Anthony van Dyck - a goatee accompanied by a moustache * Verdi - short beard with rounded bottom and slightly shaven cheeks with prominent moustache == Further reading == * Helen Bunkin, Randall Williams: ''Beards, Beards, Beards'' (Hunter & Cyr, 2000) (ISBN 1588380017) * Allan Peterkin: ''One Thousand Beards. A Cultural History of Facial Hair'' (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2001) (ISBN 1551521075)
== Reference == #''A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs'', David W. Bercot, Editor, pg 66-67. == See also == * Facial hair * Beards, moustaches and military styles: Military uniforms * Other facial hair styles: Moustache, Goatee, Sideburns, Stubble, Five o'clock shadow * Removal of facial hair: Shaving, Clean-shaven, Barber * Women and facial hair: Bearded woman, Depilation == External links == * [http://www.goatee.org All About Goatees] * [http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com World Beard & Moustache Championships] * [http://members.aol.com/beardguy/ All About Beards] * [http://www.beardcommunity.com/ The Beard Community] Human appearance simple:Beard

Beard

I'm a young man with a beard :) i grew mine for two reasons - to look older and also my face droops slightly from the stroke that crippled me not long after birth and the beard helps hide that. User:PMelvilleAustin 18:52 Feb 8, 2003 (UTC) Would someone please get rid of that disgusting beard pic on the page and replace it with a picture that's more attractive? User:Acornlord 13:57, 29 Feb 2004 (UTC) :As the person who took the photo, I'd be interested to learn what exactly you find "disgusting" about it. User:KF 20:18, 29 Feb 2004 (UTC) :The beard is visually disgusting. It is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I would much appreciate a more appealing beard picture. The beard is scraggly, old, hairy, discolored, worn by a snickering geezer. Please get rid of it. User:Acornlord 01:40, 1 Mar 2004 (UTC) ::I certainly won't exchange the photo for a "more appealing" one, but everyone here at Wikipedia is of course invited to do so without further ado. As the photographer, I was wondering about the technical aspects of the photo rather than the object itself. ::But I must add here, User:Acornlord, that I find your attitude rather strange. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the corresponding text definitely says that bearded men are frequently considered less refined, cranky, etc. I don't know how old you are, but I sincerely hope ageism won't get you anywhere. Also, although I don't really consider this a slippery slope, anyone could argue they find all kinds of images disgusting and repulsive and demand their removal (see, for example, the photo illustrating the psoriasis article). ::Looking forward to seeing a "more attractive" picture here soon. All the best, User:KF 09:55, 1 Mar 2004 (UTC) :Well, that's just my opinion. Where possible, attractive pictures should replace ugly pictures. For example, in the article human, would you rather have an old, balding, fat, cancerous, disgusting, frothing man as a picture for the article, or a pleasing-looking man instead? User:Acornlord 14:30, 3 Mar 2004 (UTC) Please, someone, remove that hideous beard picture from the article and replace it with something half-decent! User:Acornlord 20:59, 6 Mar 2004 (UTC) I agree with Acornlord. The picture is not the best. Need better picture.User:WHEELER 13:58, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC) This is a fine example of a Garibaldi beard, well on its way to becoming a Full beard, as evidenced by the strands beginning to hang downward. The man is a distinguished looking gentleman, likely an Amish type. It is a fine picture and does this page justice. User:Whiskers_User_talk:Whiskers">User:Whiskers|User:Whiskers User talk:Whiskers 23:39, 14 Sep 2004 (UTC) == Breadth of coverage == No, not of the chin, but of the topic- could the article be expanded with more discussion of the significance of beards in other places, since there's currently quite a bit on the U.S.? User:Finn-Zoltan 22:11, 23 Jun 2004 (UTC) There ought to be more discussion of of the influence of politics and religion on the hair and beard. Charles Mackay's ''Extraordinary popular delusions and the madness of crowds'' [http://www.gutenberg.net/etext/636] is in the public domain and portions could certainly be summarized here. User:Gdr 17:26, 2004 Aug 12 (UTC) ==Photo of reference work== Why does there have to be a picture of the One Thousand Beards book? It looks like an advertisement. Also, there is another book by Helen Bunkin called Beards, Beards, Beards that has received very high reviews and is to be the first of two, but it is not listed. I have taken the liberty of adding it. User:Whiskers_User_talk:Whiskers">User:Whiskers|User:Whiskers User talk:Whiskers 23:54, 14 Sep 2004 (UTC) == Women and Facial Hair == I don't believe that this is the place to talk about women and facial hair. My reasoning follows. A mention of women and facial hair is made on Facial hair and links directing interested readers direct them to the appropriate page, Bearded woman. Also, I have added appropriate links under 'See also' on Beard and Moustache. Before I created that page and moved the relevant information that had previously been here, the link 'Bearded woman' automatically redirected to Hirsutism. This is not fair, as what is commonly believed to be a beard on a woman is not a beard at all, but simply dark body hair. This new page allows us to discuss the subject sensitively and scientifically, before sending the reader off on a journey into disease and disorder. The famed bearded women of the circus sideshows were usually fakes. In a few rare cases, it is a case of Hirsutism or an even rarer genetic disorder, for which a page does not yet exist (but links on Bearded woman and Hirsutism do, should anyone care to research the topic). This is not an attempt at segregation. Here we are not talking of female authors, where it makes little sense to segregate them and their works, but of curiosities and medical disorders specific to women. There are men with breasts, too (gynecomastia), but we would surely not talk about them on a page devoted to mothers and infant feeding, or to buxom blondes on the silver screen. Furthermore, to have a natural male feature discussed in the same breath as hormonal imbalances and sideshow freaks is a gross disrespect to manhood. This furthers the distaste for things male and manly that has crept into modern society. It is often the case today that one does not refer to men as men, but as people. To be a man has become something androgynous and sexless, as if it were something freakish to be diluted, hidden and ashamed of. These pages, Beard, Moustache, Goatee, Sideburns etc ought to be done in honour of men and manhood. It is a subject of male pride. User:Whiskers_User_talk:Whiskers">User:Whiskers|User:Whiskers User talk:Whiskers 06:35, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC) ==More about Men== I just happened to catch the last 15 minutes of Dr. Phil after work today. Cher was on briefly. Talk was about her still being single and the difficulties she has with relationships - being a star and all. She said that she was looking for a "person." She did not say she is looking for a man. Refer to my comments above under 'Women and Facial Hair'. This is exactly what I am referring to. User:Whiskers_User_talk:Whiskers">User:Whiskers|User:Whiskers User talk:Whiskers 03:23, 28 Sep 2004 (UTC) ---- Is a French beard same as the goatee ? User:Jay 15:10, 19 Oct 2004 (UTC) == Excellent beard picture! == I think the picture is excellent. Who ever this man is I would be proud to meet. Of course I have quite a full beard my self. Family photo found at http://www.livethewordministries.info/modules.php?name=whoweare taken back in June. As anyone who has a full beard knows you certainly get a range of looks from poeple when they first see you. From happy to afraid and all points in between. The man that is speaking so negatively should put his own mug up if he thinks that one is sooo bad. :)
I was very happy to find another site (this site) with information on beards. This one definately goes into more detail than [http://www.livethewordministries.info/modules.php?name=Beards mine]. Thanks! Gary ==Pogonology== Such a long article, I've only skimmed it for now, but it neglects the word ''pogonology'' which seems entirely fitting: the study of beards. --User:Eli the Bearded 02:26, 2004 Dec 10 (UTC) == Christianity? == What is a section related to christianity doing in an article about beards? Yeah, the article only talks about beards in christianity and no other religion. That's pretty partial. Either remove that section or things about beards in other religions should also be written. == Boxing == Beard is also a boxing term. A fighter who can sustain powerful punches to the face is described as having a "good beard". Heres a link to an article using it in that context: [http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym15.htm The Chin, The Beard, The Knockout] == Crimean War == I have read several times that beards became fashionable in England when many soldiers from the Crimean War returned wearing them. See: http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/french/6.html . User:SimonLyall 03:14, 19 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Arf == At present the article contains the phrase "''Full beards nonetheless remain a fringe phenomenon''". This is clearly in error. Full beards extend all over the bottom of the head, not just the fringes.-User:Ashley Pomeroy 11:04, 10 May 2005 (UTC) == Dionysus rarely? == I've removed the mention of Dionysus 'rarely' being represented with a beard, as he frequently is. (In two of the four representations over at the Dionysus article, for example.) Arguably he is almost always bearded when he is not represented as a youth: "Artistically he was represented mostly either as a youth of soft, nearly feminine form, or as a bearded and draped man, but frequently also as an infant, with reference to his birth or to his bringing up in Nysa." (source: http://28.1911encyclopedia.org/D/DI/DIONYSUS.htm) --10:07, 29 May 2005 (UTC)User:Blorg

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Words begining with Beard:

Beard
Beard
Beard-Eaves-Memorial_Coliseum
Beard-Eaves_Coliseum
Bearded
Beardedkeane
BeardedPhysicist
BeardedPhysicist
Beardedstoat
Bearded_Barbet
Bearded_barbet
Bearded_Bellbird
Bearded_bellbird
Bearded_Collie
Bearded_Collie
Bearded_Dragon
Bearded_Dragon
Bearded_dragon
Bearded_dragon
Bearded_lady
Bearded_Reedling
Bearded_reedling
Bearded_saki
Bearded_saki
Bearded_Seal
Bearded_Tit
Bearded_tit
Bearded_woman
Bearded_woman
Bearded_women
Bearded_women
Bearden
Bearden,_AR
Bearden,_Arkansas
Bearden,_Arkansas
Bearden,_OK
Bearden,_Oklahoma
Beardfish
Beardie
Beardless
Beardmore_Glacier
Beardmore_Glacier
Beards
Beardsley
Beardsley,_Minnesota
Beardsley,_MN
Beardsley_Zoo
Beardstown
Beardstown,_IL
Beardstown,_Illinois
Beardtongue
Beardworm
Beard_(female_companion)
Beard_(sexual)
Beard_lichen
Beard_Papa
Beard_worm