dalmatics

Dalmatics are outer liturgical vestments worn by deacons in many Western Christian traditions. The garment is a long, wide-sleeved tunic that reaches the knees or lower and is worn over an alb, often with a stole accompanying it. In the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran rites, the dalmatic identifies the deacon's role during liturgical service and processions. The color of the dalmatic usually corresponds to the liturgical color of the season or feast.

Name and origin: The term derives from the Latin dalmaticus, from Greek dalmatikós, and is commonly linked to Dalmatia, a region noted in medieval sources for the manufacture or import of such garments. The precise origin is uncertain.

Design and decoration: Dalmatics are typically made of linen, cotton, or wool and may be white for festive occasions or colored for the season (green, purple, red, white, gold). They often feature decorative borders along the front, sleeves, and hem, with embroidery or metallic thread at the edges.

History and practice: The dalmatic emerged in late antiquity as the deacon's distinctive vestment, and by the Middle Ages it was widespread in the Latin Church. In many modern Western churches, the garment remains in regular use; some Protestant churches retain the dalmatic or closely related vestments for similar roles.

Regional variation and related forms: In Eastern Christian traditions, deacons wear different vestments, and the corresponding outer garment is not a dalmatic; the dalmatic remains a characteristic feature of Western liturgical practice.