Chainmail Day – September 22, 2022, history, significance why we celebrate
Chainmail Day is observed annually on September 22 and we are preparing ourselves to celebrate the historical and incredible armor that still has much relevance today! Do you know that chainmail has been found in almost every medieval culture, and was one of the mainstays of armies in that period, and was particularly loved by the Romans? It is a unique type of armor composed of interwoven links of metal, and often worn over a layer of leather or padded cloth.
History of Chainmail Day
The history of Chainmail Day is actually the history of chainmail itself. For those who are unaware of exactly what chainmail is, it’s a type of armor composed of interwoven links of metal, often worn over a layer of padded cloth or leather. The name chainmail is actually redundant, as mail is the French word for ‘chain’, rendering its name fully translated as ‘chainmail’ or ‘mail mail’ if you prefer. Chainmail has been found in almost every medieval culture, and was one of the mainstays of armies through the period, and was particularly loved by the Romans.
The benefits of chainmail came from its ability to protect the wearer while still allowing them the freedom of movement often restricted by heavier armors. While it wasn’t particularly good against piercing weapons like spears and arrows, it was exceptional against those with a blade. As weapons technology advanced, it would eventually be supplemented with metal plates, at which point it would become known as ‘Plate Mail’, a sort of hybrid between the classic heavy armor of yore and this flexible protection.
Chainmail is still worn today, albeit not commonly in any field of battle, except in those cases where knife-resistant armor is needed. It is, however, commonly used for those who spend a lot of time working with sharks. It also has found use in the animal control department due to its ability to protect against bites from the animals they work with. One less commonly known location that it is still in use is with high-voltage electrical workers, by wearing a chainmail suit that’s grounded they prevent the electricity from passing through them, instead of having it course through the armor safely to ground.
CHAINMAIL DAY TIMELINE
300 B.C.
Chainmail is Invented
The Celts invent chainmail and begin using it.
200 A.D.
Persians Adopt its Use
Persians adopt the use of chainmail scale armor for defense.
16th Century
Decline in Popularity
With the rise in firearms, chainmail begins to reduce in application due to its ineffectiveness in protecting against them.
21st Century
Mainstream Use
Chainmail is used as a component of stab-resistant body armor, cut-resistant gloves, and shark-resistant wetsuits.
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How to Celebrate Chainmail Day
One of the great ways to celebrate Chainmail Day is by putting together some chainmail of your own! By using a soldering iron, heavy gauge wire, and a pair of needle-nose pliers you can create the armor yourself! There are multiple patterns you can follow, with some of them being producing nicely decorative designs. If you’re a chainmail enthusiast, check out how chainmail is used today, and maybe spend some time working on it yourself!
