Ulos

Ulos is the traditional cloth of the Batak people of North Sumatra. Different kinds of ulos have different ceremonial significance. The ulos is normally worn draped over the shoulder or shoulders, or in weddings to ceremonially bind the bride and groom together. Ulos are traditionally hand woven and in the case of higher-quality examples are significant family heirlooms, to be worn at important events, such as funerals and weddings.

With increasing modernisation has come the decline in significance of the ulos, with many varieties no longer in demand.

According to Batak people, there are 3 sources of warmness for human; Sun, Fire and Ulos. Why ulos is a source of warmness? Ulos is said to be a source of warmth because they were living on cold mountains. This natural condition makes the sunlight insufficient to give warmth especially at night. Then, they create something that is able to give them warmth, also believed to be able to give the men bravery and the women strength against infertility .

At first, Ulos was only used as an ordinary cloth. But it later developed to a symbol of love, traditional ceremony requirements, and society structural system symbol. Even Ulos is believed to have magical religious power and thus considered 'sacred' and that it has special power to protect the user.

There are many kinds and motives of Ulos, which have their own respective meaning in accordance to the characteristic, condition, function, and some relation. When it is used given to whom, and which traditional ceremony like wedding, birth, death and other rituals will never run without Ulos. If Ulos is used by a man, the upper part of it is called ande-ande, the lower called singkot, the one used on head called tali-tali, or bulang-bulang. But, because of its sacred value, not all Ulos can be used in daily activities. Ulos Jugja, Sadum, Ragidup, and Runjat are only used in some occasions. In everyday life, men wear Ulos in box pattern with black shirt named baju Kurung without shoes nor sandals.

Ulos used by female, the bottom called haen, the back called hoba-hoba and if it used as sсarf it called ampe-ampe. If used as head cover called saong, and if used to carry baby called parompa. In daily, the female using black long dress and head cover.

There are three ways to use Ulos. First, siabithononton (used). The Ulos used for this are Ragidup, Sibolang, Runjat, Djobit, Simarindjamisi, and Ragi Pangko. Second, sihadanghononton (used as head cover). The Ulos used for this are Sirara, Sumbat, Bolean, Mangiring, Surisuri and Sadum. Third, sitalitalihononton (tied at hip). Ulos used for this are Tumtuman, Mangiring and Padangrusa. Using Ulos in the right way is extremely important to make good looking and also to fulfill the philosophy meaning in Ulos. Ulos as love symbol it called mangulosi. In Batak culture, mangulosi (giving Ulos) is symbol of love to the receiver. In Mangulosi, there are common rules, mangulosi only can be done by people who has family relation or to give it to lower social status people. Like, parents can mengulosi their children, but not opposite. If want to mangulosi a child who give birth ffirst child, Ulos given is Ragidup Sinagok. Ulos given to special guest is Ulos Ragidup Silingo.

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Wikipedia