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As I write this post it is 94 degrees outside, and I’m hot.
I look at the image of the Virgin Mary that hangs in my home office and I wonder how she survived the desert heat, wearing the clothing of the era. Summer heat can reach 110 degrees in Ephesus, Turkey, where she lived out her days after Jesus’ crucifixion. In Nazareth, where she spent most of her life, the summers are “long, hot, humid, arid” according to weather spark.com.
What she wore would have been customary attire for Middle Eastern culture. During the period in which she lived, the standard garb was a full-length tunic and a scarf that draped the head and wrapped the shoulders. The tunic, according to Wikipedia, was constructed of either wool or linen.
On top of the tunic women wore stolas, if they were married, to indicate their status. Veils and belts were also part the outfit. And under it all, women would wear breast bands, a supportive garment made of cloth, or even leather.
Regarding Mary specifically, the Bible doesn’t describe what she wore. The closest testimony I can find is in Revelation 12, where John shares his vision of seeing Mary “clothed with the sun…”
Though the Bible doesn’t describe her clothing, seers (among them are those who have witnessed the various Marian apparitions), have described her appearance, including her clothes. And those visions have been captured in the works of Renaissance artists, including DaVinci, Rafael and Donatello. Many artists of the time used various colors for her garments, some influenced by political perspectives, according to an article in the National Catholic Register.
She has been depicted in the following ways, based on apparitions:
At Fatima, she was dressed in a pure white gown.
At Lourdes, her white gown was cinched with a blue sash.
At Guadalupe, Mary wore a black belt which was symbolic in Aztec culture of maternity.
Blue, however, is the color that we most associate with Mary’s clothing. There are many interpretations of the color, with some claiming it represents the color of the sky, and therefore Heaven. Others say it represents divinity.
According to a post on the Knights of Columbus website, the color blue was a status symbol. In early days, blues and purples were difficult to recreate in dyes. The process was hard, as well as expensive, and as a result the color blue on clothing was reserved for the elite and royalty. Thus, it was fitting for artistic works featuring Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
I am hoping to bring more knowledge about the Virgin Mary to the world, especially during these times when we need her most. Please consider sharing this post, this site, or its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. I invite you to subscribe to this site (below) to be notified of new posts. Thank you.
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