This is a Russian style
cap with ear flaps that can be tied up to the crown of the
cap, which is often made of fur, or tied at the chin to protect the ears from the
cold.
Though ushankas are a distinctly Russian hat, indeed, the stereotypical
Russian is seen to wear one, the wearing of fur caps of similar design is common throughout China, North Korea, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It is also worn widely in North
America and Canada.
It is not considered masculine among Russian men to wear the ear flaps down, though a stereotypical dustman is usually portrayed wearing his ushanka with flaps untied, one pointing down and one up.
In the
English-speaking world, it is sometimes refered to as a shapka. However, this usage is not specific to the Ushanka, but is rather a Russian language word meaning simply "hat". Ushanka literally translates as "ear-flaps hat".
