Clerical collar

thumb|A plastic clerical collar
A clerical collar is a piece of Christian clerical clothing. It is a detachable collar that buttons onto a clergy shirt or rabbat (vest), being fastened by two metal studs, one attached at the front and one at the back to hold the collar to the shirt. The collar closes at the back of the neck, presenting a seamless front. It is almost always white; and was originally made with cotton or linen but is often made with plastic now. Sometimes (especially in Roman Catholic practice) it is attached with a "collaret" or "collarino" that covers the white collar almost completely, except for the top edge and a small white square at the base of the throat, to mimic the collar of a cassock. Sometimes the collar is black (or whatever color is appropriate to the rank of the clergyman), with only a detachable tab of white in the front.
==History==
The clerical collar is a fairly modern invention (the detachable collar itself is supposed to have been invented in 1827), although the "collarino" may date as far back as the 17th century. The Church of England's Enquiry Centre reports (citing the Glasgow Herald of December 6, 1894) that the practice of Anglican clergy wearing a detachable clerical collar was invented by a Rev Dr Donald McLeodArticle from The Times, 14 March 2002, reproduced online at SaltForSermons.Org.UK. and became more popular through the Oxford Movement. The clerical collar has no particular religious meaning apart from identifying the person wearing it as a member of the clergy.
==Use by denomination==
In the Roman Catholic Church, the clerical collar is worn by all ranks of clergy, thus, bishops, priests, and deacons — normally transitional but occasionally permanent — often by seminarians who have been admitted to candidacy for the priesthood, as is the case in the Diocese of Rome; and by college and graduate level seminarians with their cassock during liturgical celebrations.
In the Eastern tradition, amongst Catholic and Orthodox easterners, a band collarette with no "notch" in front may be worn by seminarians, although the norm is still a standard clerical collar. However, as the cassock is more commonly, if not mandatorily, worn to classes, often a plain white shirt will suffice, or a band collar with no collarette. Slavic cassocks button to the side, and thus a collar is often pointless, whereas a Greek cassock buttons to the front and has a higher collar, so the collar prevents chafing - as was its original function under a cassock. Eastern deacons and sometimes subdeacons, but rarely readers or clerics, also wear a clerical collar, with subdeacons and readers often having a style with no notch, or a tab shirt with no tab. It is important to note that most Orthodox clerics do not wear a clerical collar anyway. Some do, but this is usually restricted to Western Europe and the Americas.
Collars are typically worn by seminarians and clergy members of other Christian groups such as those of the Anglican, Presbyterian and Lutheran traditions. Also many Methodist, Apostolic, Oneness Pentecostals, Non-denominational, and other Christian ministers wear collars. Some Unitarian Universalist ministers—Humanists as well as Christians—wear collars. In some churches or locales however, this practice is discouraged because collars are assumed to be associated with Roman Catholicism.
In the United Kingdom clerical collars are sometimes informally called dog collars.BBC article referring to clerical collars as "dog collars" 
The term "Roman collar" is equivalent to "clerical collar" and does not mean that the wearer is Roman Catholic.Webster's Dictionary definition of "Roman collar"
==Footnotes==
Category:Protestant vestments
Category:Anglican vestments
Category:Roman Catholic vestments
Category:Lutheran vestments
Category:Neckwear
Category:Religious vesture
Category:Necklines
de:Kollar
es:Alzacuellos
ko:로만칼라
it:Collarino ecclesiastico
nl:Priesterboord
pl:Koloratka
ru:Колоратка
zh:衣領 (神職人員)