The fishermen used them as warm scarves while sailing to the icy waters of the White Sea. The Pomors, who are Russian coast-dwellers on the Arctic Ocean areas, also wore this functional hat type with long ’ears’. Mongolian tribes had ruled over the Eastern Slavs for about 400 years starting in 14th century so it is not a surprise to find the influence of Mongolian culture in various aspects of Russian life. Malakhai hat had ’ears’ that were designed to protect its owner from severe winds while worn down and could also be tied up at the back when the weather was warm. One of them states that a Mongolian helmet-like hat called ’ malakhai’ could have been a prototype for a Russian ushanka. There are several theories about possible sources. The word itself derives from the word ’ ushi’ that stands for ’ ears’ in Russian. The birth of it is the result of the climate necessities and at times literal survival in extreme low temperatures.

It is surely more than a stereotypical souvenir foreign tourists often bring home from their travels. They say: ’It's not that we never get cold, the matter is that we know how to dress well so we don't get cold’Ī legendary Russian fur hat called ’ ushanka’ is a valid proof of the fact that the Russians have learnt the art of winter wise-dressing. The secret is in saying that we have heard from the Siberians who are trustworthy winter experts among the Russians. You may think of the Russians as some special sort of humans who are immune to the cold but it is not exactly true. At least twice in the history of the country the enemies had to march-back off Moscow primarily because of the severe unbearable weather conditions.

Indeed, it is the land well known for extremely low temperatures and at times it can even be an advantage. The Russians do not dream of a white Christmas, they have it and cannot picture it without snow and freezing air. Russia is the land of the cold and the winter.

Russian style hat woman