Figure 1.--"The picture shows Indian altar boys. The photo was taken in the suburbs of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand State, in September 2006. The garment worn by these children are like those worn by altar boys in many European countries: red cassock, white surplice and red cap. Indian characteristic is bare feet.

I do not think there is any destinctive clothing worn by Christians. There of course are liturgical garments works by priests and altar boys. There are also vestments worn by nuns. We do not that Chritians go barefoot in church. This seems to be a tradition acquired because Hindus and Christiasns remove their shoes in temples abnd mosques. A reader writes, "The picture shows Indian altar boys. The photo was taken in the suburbs of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand State, in September 2006. The garment worn by these children are like those worn by altar boys in many European countries: red cassock, white surplice and red cap. Indian characteristic is bare feet. This is not a matter of poverty. All these boys had footwear (someone sneakers, the others sandals or flip flops). They took off the shoes for serve the Mass. In the church all people go barefoot and also the priest celebrates in bare feet." Another reader writes, "Bare feet in the churches are not a Christian topic, but an Indian topic. People in India go barefoot in all religions prayer places (Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian). It is also a respect signal. In Ranchi I saw high school students taking off the footwear entering in the teacher's office."

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Created: 10:33 PM 11/1/2006
Last updated: 3:46 AM 2/1/2007