Which monks wear white habits

The subdued and neutral shades of monks' robes visibly proclaimed their vows of poverty and detachment from the ornaments and distractions of this world. Different monastic orders chose distinctive hues for their habits as an additional means of advertising their particular missions and philosophies.

In early days, the habits of religious orders were somewhat of a hodgepodge. Monks wore whatever color of poor garment was available, based on donations from the faithful, local cloth and vegetable dyes, or the tradition of their monastery.

Robes were gray, brown, undyed wool or a mix of dun colors. As the monasteries grew in power and prestige, traditions codified and each order identified itself with colors chosen to express the philosophy or commitment of that particular community. By the twelfth century, as monastic growth and influence was approaching its zenith, the habits of the orders had become distinctive uniforms.

Benedictines were the most organized and widespread order and, like other religious houses, they started out wearing simple undyed wool robes -- a kind of dingy white shading to dark, depending on the local sheep. Eventually they settled on black as the color for habits and became known as "the black monks. The religious habit of the Carthusians is white. What color is a monks robe? The saffron for a more appropriate name for the color robes monk wear dates back centuries.

Orange was chosen mainly because of the dye available at the time. The tradition stuck and orange is now the color of choice for Theravada Buddhist followers in Southeast Asia, as opposed to a maroon color for Tibetan monks.

Which order of monks wear white robes? The Carthusians, an order of mostly contemplative monks, wore undyed white wool robes with white over-tunics called scapulars or cowls. What do Benedictine monks wear? Current usage more generally refers to cutting or shaving for monks, devotees, or mystics of any religion as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. What do monks do all day? They do the things that make them communal — Mass, prayer, reflection, service.

They also do the things that make them unique — exercise, collecting, composing, cooking. You know a nun when you see one. The uniform, known as a habit, is a dead giveaway. The white color is a testament to the fact that the boys are yet to prove themselves to have the discipline and dedication required to enter the ranks of proper monks who exercise restraint and live an ascetic existence.

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Monks and nuns all over the world are easily recognised by what they wear. Different Orders vary slightly in the robes which they wear, but all monks and nuns wear a robe called a habit. The monks of St. Benedict wear black robes.