National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Video: Knots Slides & Wild Rags
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- čas přidán 3. 02. 2009
- westernfolklife.org During the 25th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, our roving videographers caught up with several Elko County locals and visitors to find out exactly what wild rags are all about in ranching life across the West. Special thanks to Wylie & the Wild West for allowing us to use the song, "Out West" from their Bucking Horse Moon CD as the background music for this video. A "guerilla video."
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I have loved silk neckerchiefs ever since I saw Roy Rogers for the first time. Now I wear vintage full-square Boy Scout neckerchiefs as wildrags.
You know, I have been trying to figure out for years what type of Scarf Roy Rogers wore! I am in My mid-20's so I never got to be apart of the good old days. So it's hard to find any imfo. Just found out a couple months ago that they are called wild rags. I always thought it was some type of cotton. Guess that explains why I never got it to work!
Glad to see a fellow Roy Rogers fan that loved his neck scarf!
Roy had a huge collection of big colorful silk neckerchiefs that he wore in his movies and on his weekly tv show. Later on, to my dismay, he gave up his silks for simple cotton scarves. His neckerchiefs entered into the plots of several of his tv show episodes.
I grew up as a real cowboy on a working cattle ranch and wore a scarf (they weren't called wild rags back then). My comment is on knots. If wearing to show off, or as a costume, tie them with the pretty fancy knots if you want. If wearing them while out working, tie them with one end half hitched around the other end. That away you can get it off by pulling one side. Think cold, gloves, numb fingers, or hung up on a piece of wire, or a tree branch. Don't accidently hang yourself out there.
You can also dip the silk in water when it is hot. The wild rag will help you keep cool then.
It's not just for cold weather.
Nice!
(begin part 1 of 2) I would also like to add that the wild rags in Buckaroo culture have no connection with the bandanas worn by street gangs. Those street gangs emerged in the latter half of the 20th century and used the colored bandanas to identify themselves. Buckaroo culture emerged in the 19th century as an extension of the Vaquero culture that first appeared in California during the 18th century. Both Buckaroos and Vaqueros are types of cowboy, as in their work and pride came from...
(begin part 2 of 2) raising beef cattle for profit, training and riding fine horses, and excelling at ranch life in some of the most inhospitable natural environments in the US. The silk scarves, or wild rags, had practical value. They stayed warm even when they were drenched from rain or melting snow, could be tied around a horse's feet to keep it from wandering off without hurting it, filtered dirty water in the desert, etc. Most gang members know the difference and ignore Buckaroos.
@packjim56 Thank you. It is something, my students would like to know. Young gangs fashion :)
I keep my neck warm by avoiding cold places like Elko Nevada in January. Unfortunately, where I'm from, wearing the wrong colored scarf can get you shot. So I tend to avoid them altogether. But if I was a cowboy, I'd wear one. Just not around here.
I would like to add to what packjim56 said. He is correct, but there are also many places where Norteno and Sureno don't have geographic meaning. I became familiar with the rival gangs in the 1980's while living in San Jose, CA, which is north of Bakersfield. They have both spread thousands of miles to the east and north as far as Canada, too. I have even seen signs of both gangs in Elko, NV, where this video was filmed. Pay attention to the gang signs around you and stay safe.
@packjim56 I am from other part of the world. I read your comment and got curious: where is that place, where "wearing the wrong colored scarf can get you shot"? May I ask you to explain? It is very interesting for me as I like to know more about American culture. Thank you.
I think they're confusing wild rags with small newer bandanas some places in America you can wear a spefic colored bandana which symbolizes what gang you're in. Blue for crypts red for bloods ect.
@Anarazhakupova There are many different hispanic gangs in California. White Fench, La Familia, Mexican Mafia, F-Troop (in my county), etc. etc.. Some call themselves Nortenos (northerners). They who live north of Bakersfield. They prefer red bandanas. While others, the Surenos (southerners), those living south of Bakersfield, prefer blue bandanas. It would be very unwise for a young man to wear a red bandana around where I live. I am not young, but who wants to take that chance.
All these highly individualized folks……wearing uniform costumes!