What is the Difference Between a Surplice and a Panna Cotta?
A surplice is a long, sleeveless garment that has pleated or gathered bodices. It can be found in a variety of styles, including tops and dresses, and it is often made of lace.
The word cotta is derived from the Medieval Latin term cotta, meaning “cut-off” or “short.” It is sometimes used to refer to a Roman Catholic surplice that has shorter, closed sleeves and square shoulders. English-speaking Roman Catholics, however, typically do not make this distinction.
Historically, a surplice was a tunic with wide open sleeves that reached nearly to the ground. Today, a surplice is still an appropriate vestment for many liturgical services and can be worn by deacons, priests and lectors. It is also sometimes worn by altar servers or acolytes who are not part of a choir.
It is a traditional vestment for a Catholic wedding and is also an important part of the attire of bishops. It is typically worn under a stole and over the cassock.
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert that has a smooth, creme-brulee-like texture. It is often served with fresh fruit or warm sauces. It is usually kept in the refrigerator and can be prepared up to 3 days before serving.
A surplice is often paired with a matching shawl, stole or cincture for formal events. It can be used for funerals and other ceremonies that require a robe.
The hem and sleeves of the surplice were often trimmed with lace, especially after the lace industry developed in the sixteenth century. This practice became too common and had the unfortunate effect of straining and undignified display.
As a general rule, lace should be avoided on the hem and sleeves of a surplice. It is better to use something else, such as a fine brocade or a rich silk.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to lace on a surplice is that some types of lace are simply too delicate and unfinished looking for such an important vestment. These include Chantilly, Point d’Esprit, Lyons, Alencon and cotton lace.
In some cases, it is better to avoid all lace entirely and choose instead a more distinctive and bold type of lace. Battenberg lace is an excellent example of this.
There are also cases where a more restrained edge is preferable to a more heavily ornamented one. This is for the reason that the more restrained it is, the less attention it will draw from the viewer.
A non-lace example of a surplice is usually more interesting than a similarly designed lace surplice, as the greater length and the effect of the pleating on the surplice itself are what give it ornamentation. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the non-lace version of a surplice is not too long, so as to look like a short alb, and that it is not too short, so as to be mistaken for a shirt.
A cote, which in England and America is normally a shorter surplice that does not have any sleeves, or a surplice that has short sleeves, is a kind of coarse woolen blanket. It is sometimes called a “cotton blanket” or a “cotton bed” as it is made from the same fabric as cotton beds.
