Sashes are a distinctive feature of some regiments of the modern French Army for parade dress. They are worn around the waist in the old Algerian or zouave style ("ceinture de laine"). Traditionally these sashes were more than 4m (13ft) in length and 40cm (16in) in width. In the historic French Army of Africa, sashes were worn around the waist in either blue for European or red for indigenous troops. [7] (British) Commonwealth of Nations [ edit ] In Latin America and some countries of Africa, a special presidential sash indicates a president's authority. In France and Italy, sashes – featuring the national flag tricolours and worn on the right shoulder – are used by public authorities and local officials (such as legislators) during public ceremonial events. Japanese officers continued the practice in full dress uniform until 1940. [13] Presidential sash [ edit ] The sash in the picture to the left (circa 1900, image courtesy of Healthy Investment, Bury, Lancs) belonged to a Chief Ruler, the highest ranking officer in a Rechabite District. It clearly shows the Rechabite emblem with its many symbols, most of which were related to Christian themes. White sashes were presented to new members at the conclusion of the Rechabite initiation ceremony. The symbolism of the colour white was explained via a reading from the book of Revelations 7.9. The main theme being that the robes of the Twelve tribes were made white by washing them in the blood of the Lamb. “From which we learn that white is an emblem of purity. The white sash, therefore, is to teach you that your life must be pure and free from immoral blemishes, and I trust that while you wear the robe of purity you will keep yourself unspotted from the world”.(6) The Rechabite sash, therefore acted as a reminder to members of their duties from a Christian perspective. The ‘immoral blemishes’ were to be avoided at all costs and very probably related to both the consumption of alcohol and a breaking of the Rechabite pledge in which all members consented to a life of total abstinence. In Canada, hand-woven sashes (known as ceintures fléchées or sometimes "L'Assomption sashes" after a Quebec town named L'Assomption in which they were mass-produced) were derived from Iroquois carrying belts sometime during the 18th century. As a powerful multi-use tool, this sash found use in the fur trade, which brought it into the North West by means of French voyageurs. During this period, the weave got tighter and size expanded, with some examples more than four metres in length. Coloured thread was widely used. The sash is a shared cultural emblem between French-Canadians and Métis peoples. Today, it is considered to be primarily a symbol of the 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion Patriotes and the Métis Nation. In modern times, Bonhomme Carnaval, the snowman mascot of the Quebec Winter Carnival, wears a ceinture fléchée as part of his attire in recognition of the province's heritage.

Rogers, James (August 29, 2017). "George Washington's 'rediscovered' Revolutionary War sash on display". Fox News. 21st Century Fox . Retrieved September 4, 2020. Victoria Solt Dennis, Discovering Friendly and Fraternal Societies. Their Badges and Regalia (Princes Risborough: Shire Publications, 2005), p.37 Thailand: Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) on left shoulder but Knight Grand Cross (First Class): right shoulder, for:Carl Franklin: British Army Uniforms of the American Revolution 1751-1783, Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2012, ISBN 978-1-84884-690-6, p. 356, p. 371, THE LAMB – “Stands for MEAKNESS, INNOCENCE AND MODESTY and teaches us that we must be prepared to make sacrifices if needs be to preserve these qualities in our characters, and to make sacrifices for others.” Until 1914 waist-sashes in distinctive national colours were worn as a peace-time mark of rank by officers of the Imperial German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian armies, amongst others.

THE EYE – “Indicates WATCHFULNESS and teaches us to be ever alert to avoid evil and temptation. Strong drink injures vision and harms thought. It also reminds us that the all-seeing eye of God, therefore we must be true to our pledge and do nothing we should be ashamed of Him seeing.”Sergeants were permitted sashes of crimson wool, with a single stripe of facing colour following the clothing regulations of 1727. Whereas it remained vague whether the sash was to be worn over the shoulder or around the waist, it was clarified in 1747 that sergeants had to wear their sashes around the waist. From 1768, the sergeant's waist sash had one (until 1825) resp. three (until 1845) stripes of facing colour; in regiments with red or purple facings the sergeant's sash had white stripes or remained plain crimson. [3] [4]